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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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No. 104 Squadron Crest
08.06.1943 No. 104 Squadron Wellington II W5564 EP-H P/O. Francis Earl McLaren

Operation: Pantelleria, Italy

Date: 8 June 1943 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 104 Squadron - Motto: Strike hard

Badge: A winged thunderbolt. The device in conjunction with the motto implies the unit's formidable intentions and power.

Type: Vickers Wellington II

Serial: W5564

Code: Call sign H

Base: Kairouan/Cheria, Tunisia

Location: Mediterranean Sea about 4 miles off Pantelleria

Pilot: P/O. Francis Earl McLaren J.17371 RCAF - Safe but suffering from exposure (1)

2nd Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Leonard Reginald Brennan Aus/413161 RAAF Age 32 - Missing believed killed (2)

Nav: Sgt. Frank Edward Bobby 1183349 RAFVR Age 29 - Missing believed killed (3)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Roland Osborne Charles Harris 1117369 RAFVR Age 20 - Killed (4)

W/Op/Air/Gnr (F): Sgt. Derek James Aspinall Robson 1222115 RAFVR Age 23 - Missing believed killed (5)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Trevor William Robert Jones Aus/407867 Age 21 - Missing believed killed (6)



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INTRODUCTION


PANTELLERIA


With the successful conclusion of the North African Campaign in May 1943 the Allies turned their attention to the invasion of Italy. Standing in the way of their first objective of Sicily, was the heavily fortified island of Pantelleria.

Recognising the island's strategic position in the narrow channel separating the eastern and western Mediterranean, Mussolini had declared it a prohibited military zone in 1926 and in 1935 commenced the construction of an airfield, coastal fortifications and anti-aircraft batteries. By 1943 the island's defences consisted of at least 12000 Italian and 600 German troops with 112 fortified gun emplacements and 80 aircraft based on the island.

In May 1943 the aircraft of the Northwest African Air Forces were turned on Pantelleria. With 1000 aircraft at his disposal, Air Marshal Tedder oversaw a continuous bombing of the island fortifications, dropping some 6600 tons of bombs as a prelude to the invasion of the island planned for 11 June and Codenamed "Operation Corkscrew".

The attacks commenced on 18 May and continued until 1000 hours on 11 June. An hour later, as Allied forces approached in landing craft, the Italian defenders ran up the white flag and capitulated.


104 SQUADRON


In October 1941, 15 aircraft of 104 Squadron had flown to Malta from its base at RAF Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire to conduct operations against targets in Libya, Sicily and Italy. In January 1942, the Squadron and this detachment moved to Kabrit aka Landing Ground 213, located about 80 miles east of Cairo, and in May 1942 to Landing Ground 106 some 25 miles north west of El Alamein.

On 6 November 1942 a detachment was again sent to Luqa whilst the rest of the Squadron remained in Egypt. The detachment based in Malta conducted operations against targets in Sicily and Tunisia but from 4 December 1942, concentrated its efforts predominantly against the docks and shipping at the Tunis and La Goulette Naval Bases.




'RED' McLAREN AND CREW


In late 1942, Canadian pilot, Francis Earl McLaren, was posted to 104 Squadron and later joined the detachment sent to RAF Luqa in Malta. Inevitably known as'Red' on account of his hair colour, he flew his first operation on 30 December 1942, a raid on the harbour installations at Sfax in Tunisia followed in January 1943 by 6 more operations against various targets in Tunisia and Libya before the detachment was re-united with the Squadron on 21 January 1943 and which since 27 November 1942 had been based at LG 237 aka Kilo 40, located some 30 miles north west of Cairo

No operations were carried out between 21 January and 3 February 1943 whilst the Squadron was being re-equipped. The following 11 days were spent moving to its new base at Gardabia [Ghardabiya] Main about 10 miles south of the Libyan coastal city of Sirte.

Operations re-commenced on 20 February when Red McLaren captained one of six crews on a raid to attack shipping at Palermo. From then until the end of May he flew another 17 ops mainly against targets in Tunisia.

Unfortunately the 104 Squadron Operations Record Book names only the captains of crews prior to 20 March 1943 when the names of all the crew members begin to be recorded.

Having been commissioned on 7 March 1943 the now Pilot Officer McLaren's crew was as follows:

2nd Pilot F/Sgt. Albert Edward Leake RCAF R/93208 (Killed 29 July 1943 whilst flying as 2nd Dicky with the crew of F/Sgt. Alfred Nelson Tennant*.)

Navigator: Sgt. Frank Edward Bobby 1183349 RAFVR.

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Sgt. E J Tyrell - no further details

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Sgt. R Bennett - no further details.

Air Gunner: Sgt. Trevor William Robert Jones Aus/407867 RAAF.

For the operation of 8 May, an attack on MT and Troops in the Cap Bon Peninsular of Tunisia, Sgt. Tyrell was replaced by Sgt. Roland Osborne Charles Harris, 1117369 RAFVR, and Sgt. Bennett was replaced by Sgt. Derek James Aspinall Robson, 1222115 RAFVR. This was Red's final operation before the fateful operation of 7 June and brought his tally of ops to 25.

On 25 May 1943 orders were received for the Squadron to proceed to a new location near Kairouan in Tunisia. Whilst based at Gardabia the Squadron had undertaken one raid on Cape Bon in Tunisia and two against Messina in Sicily, but Kairouan being only 200 miles from Sicily and 125 miles from Pantelleria rather then the 4 or 500 miles from Gardabia, placed the Squadron in a much closer proximity to both islands.

Movement of the Squadron commenced on 25 May and on 2 June the Rear Party arrived at Cheria, thus completing the move and operations commenced 3 days later.

On the night of 5/6 June the Squadron detailed 11 aircraft to attack the harbour and docks at Pantelleria. One aircraft returned early due to engine trouble whilst the rest all bombed the target and returned safely.

Red McLaren and his crew were not detailed for the operation of 5/6 June but on the night of 7/8 June they were one of 9 crews detailed for a similar operation against Pantelleria harbour and docks.

Joining the crew as 2nd Dicky for this operation was Aussie, F/Sgt. Len Brennan. Len was 32 but in his younger days he had been a rugby league player of some note, having played for Sydney club, St. George Dragons. He had joined the Squadron four weeks earlier on 8 May and had already flown two ops, his first, on 21 May, as 2nd Dicky with F/Sgt. Alfred Nelson Tennant* and his second, on 24 May, as 2nd Dicky with Sgt. Robert Charles John Carey. Both ops were raids on the railways and installations at Messina.

*F/Sgt. Alfred Nelson Tennant was killed on an operation of 29 July 1943 together with his second pilot F/Sgt. Albert Edward Leake (see earlier). Both men are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Panel 270.

Frank Bobby and rear gunner Trevor Jones were now the only ever presents of the crew and

Frank Bobby being 28 years old himself, was probably pleased to have Len Brennan along, if only to relieve him of the dubious honour of being the old man of the crew.


REASON FOR LOSS


According to the Squadron Operations Record Book, Wellington W5564, captained by Red McLaren, took off at 0021 on 8 June 1943. The nine aircraft detailed for the raid were not to fly in formation but were to operate independently of each other, so independently in fact that the first of the nine took off at 2323 hours, bombed the target and returned to base before the ninth had even taken off.

Red McLaren set course shortly after setting out on the comparatively short 125 mile flight to Pantelleria. Beside him on the collapsible seat was the Aussie 2nd pilot, Len Brennan.

Behind the two pilots was wireless operator and youngest member of the crew, 20 year old, Lewisham born, Roland Harris and behind him, navigator and fellow Londoner Frank Bobby, whose family were Market Gardeners. Second wireless operator and front gunner was Derek Robson from Walsall, Staffordshire, the 23 year old son of a School Teacher.

Alone in the rear turret was 21 year old Trevor Jones. Another Australian, he hailed from Auburn, South Australia and had been a Grazier before joining the RAAF when he was 18.



The following account is based closely on the 'Report of the Ditching by Pilot Officer Francis Earl (Red) McLaren' written on 16 June 1943 to the Officer Commanding 104 Squadron.


The aircraft climbed steadily towards the target, however having reached 4500 feet and already in sight of flares going down, Red found that the bomber refused to climb any higher and had lost 2 lbs boost. Engaging the blower he managed to encourage the aircraft to climb to 5500 feet and by then jettisoning 1 x 500 lb and 1 x 250 lb bomb to lighten the load he was able to climb some more. By now they were within five miles of the Pantelleria coast and Red effected a climbing turn to port on completion of which they were still about four miles out to sea.

With no warning the aircraft received a severe blow amidships from one lone shot of heavy flak presumably from a flak ship below, although no vessel or flash had been seen by the crew.

Derek Robson, standing in the astrodome, was badly hit and although a flare was in the flare chute Derek said it never went off. Red immediately jettisoned all his remaining bombs and set course for Cape Bon.

Whilst Len Brennan and Frank Bobby attended to Derek, Roland Harris, the wireless operator, continued to send out messages. The IFF had been on Stud 3 from the moment the shell struck. The intercom had also failed and shortly afterwards the lights went out.

As Red fought to regain control he found that he had no rudder and the aileron controls were damaged. The whole aircraft was shuddering badly and he could not maintain height even with full boost and revs, 15 degrees of flap and 90 mph on the air speed indicator. He was forced to keep the stick fully back into his stomach but the aircraft did not stall. He called out to Len to come and strap him in but by the time Len got forward it was too late and Red told him to go back and tell the others to brace for ditching whilst he warned the rear gunner by pressing the signal button.

So that he could see his height above water, Red flicked the landing light switch, only to discover that they were not working either. Yet amidst all these mechanical problems he made a reasonable ditching with no further injuries sustained barring lacerations to his own face.



Frank Bobby pulled the flotation and dinghy release [it would seem that this was the internal release gear that he operated just prior to exiting through the astrodome]

Wireless operator Roland Harris then passed the wounded Derek Robson through the astrodome to Frank Bobby before going out himself.

Meanwhile, Red McLaren and Len Brennan had left via the upper escape hatch in the cockpit roof. Red inflated his Mae West and then pulled the dinghy release from the outside.

Rear gunner Trevor Jones had climbed out of his turret and after pulling his dinghy release came forward to help to support the wounded front gunner whose CO2 bottle on his Mae West had not worked so while the others held him above water Roland Harris blew up the Mae West.

Within 15 to 20 seconds the aircraft sank without any appearance of the dinghy. Red said that he had noticed that there was no fabric on the fuselage from just forward of the astrodome to just in front of the stabiliser which was still burning as the Wellington sank.

While the five men held on to one another they found that Derek Robson was badly burned about the face and could not see, but they were unable to ascertain how badly he was wounded elsewhere.

By dawn they were all very cold and had swallowed considerable amounts of water. They hung on to one another keeping the wounded Derek Robson in their midst.

During this time Roland Harris distinguished himself by swimming round to retrieve members of the crew who were too cold to hold on.

About 8.30 it was found that Derek had died and shortly afterwards Red asked Roland Harris if he thought that he could make it to Pantelleria which they could see about ten miles away. Roland was by far the best swimmer of the crew but had lost quite a lot of his strength in bringing the stragglers back to the group. Nevertheless he thought that he could swim to Pantelleria and said that he would like to try.

Things looked pretty black and none of them thought that they could last much longer so Red told Roland to try and save himself and he would take over in trying to keep the group together.

Roland was last seen about 0900 hours swimming for Pantelleria.

Red took off the dead man's Mae West and got the others to hang on to it - which they did until they could not hang on any longer and drifted a short way apart. Red last spoke to them about 1100 hours, they were all alive but becoming delirious with the sun beating down on them and the salt water washing over them and in all probability he too became delirious.

Red remembered little of what happened after that but was told by the Surgeon of the destroyer (HMS Lookout), which picked him up between 1330 and 1400 hours, that he must have seen them as he had attracted them by blowing his whistle. The Surgeon told him that the rest of the crew, who were still with him, were dead. Just as the destroyer heaved to in order to pick him up it came under attack by Junkers Ju 88s. Red remembered trying to scramble up the ladder onto the destroyer before losing consciousness.

He recovered consciousness in the Sick Bay of the destroyer about three hours later and having been treated by the Surgeon on board the destroyer for exposure, sunburn and lacerations to the face was landed at Malta at 10.00 hours on 9 June and taken to the 45th General Hospital.



Following further treatment he was discharged from hospital at 1400 hours on Saturday 12 June and the following day was flown back to his Squadron by a US Army Air Force lieutenant-colonel in a DC3.

Red's injuries were described as being only slight and he was clearly well enough to write his report a week later.

The timing of the attack on the destroyer had made it impossible to recover the bodies of the other four and their remains were never found. Thus, they were later commemorated on the Malta Memorial at Valletta, Malta.

On 26 June the body of Roland Harris was found washed up on the island of Lampedusa some 95 miles south of Pantelleria. He had drowned during his brave attempt to swim to Pantelleria and was buried in the Hospital Cemetery on Lampedusa. On 1 December 1944 his remains were re-interred at Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia.




A DFC, REPATRIATION, POST WAR CAREER AND MORE HONOURS


Following his traumatic experience of 8 June 1943 Red was to fly no more operations and on 15 October 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as promulgated in the London Gazette of that date.

The citation reads as follows:

Pilot Officer McLaren has been engaged continuously on operational flying since December 1942, and has participated in sorties against targets in Italy, Sicily and North Africa. In June 1943 he was captain of an aircraft which, during an attack on Pantelleria, was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire and the front gunner injured. Pilot Officer McLaren was forced to bring his aircraft onto the sea where, owing to damage to the dinghy, the crew had to take to the water with the sole aid of their life-saving jackets. This officer's courage and fortitude throughout a harassing experience were worthy of the highest praise.

On 25 November 1943 he was repatriated to Canada and on 11 January 1944, following six weeks leave, he was posted to No 2 Training Command (also known as the Air Training Command No. 2), which was based at Winnipeg, Manitoba and covered northwestern Ontario, all of Manitoba, and part of Saskatchewan. Promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 1 April 1944 he was engaged in introducing the Aircrew Leadership Training Programme and Gen Clubs to the various training establishments within the command area, the last mention of him in this role being 24 August 1944.

After the war, Red remained a member of the RCAF, retaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant as of 1 October 1946 and on 19 June 1951, promoted to Squadron Leader.

In 1952, on completion of 12 years' service, he was the recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) established on 15 December 1949 and first awarded on 7 June 1951.

But it seems that Red had saved his finest act of bravery until last.

In 1962 Red was stationed at RCAF Centralia, a training base near Exeter, Ontario when a Chipmunk aircraft crashed and caught fire.

In recognition of their actions in saving one of the airmen on board, Sqd Ldr. Francis McLaren DFC., CD (19900) and Fl/Lt. Ian Kenneth McKenzie CD (39050) were each awarded the George Medal on 9 February 1963 and promulgated in the London Gazette of 19 February 1963.

The citation reads:

On the morning of 6 April 1962, Chipmunk 18050 crashed near the north end of the tarmac at RCAF Station Centralia. Both fuel tanks were ruptured by the crash and fire immediately resulted from short-circuiting, which continued for some time. This dissuaded the first people to arrive at the scene from making any attempt at rescue, despite the fact that one of the pilots, Flying Officer Gillette, was alive and conscious and asking for help. At this point Squadron Leader F.E. McLaren accompanied by Flight Lieutenant I.K. McKenzie arrived on the scene and immediately set about extricating F/O Gillette. By this time both the aircraft and the ground around it were burning, the fire truck had not yet arrived, and there was grave danger of explosion, or, at the very least, of the fire getting out of control. S/L McLaren and F/L McKenzie, with great difficulty, were able to extricate F/O Gillette, but not before they themselves had received painful burns. S/L McLaren and F/L McKenzie then directed the efforts of others to extricate the body of Flying Officer Thomson, who, it was learned later, had been killed by the initial impact. S/L McLaren and F/L McKenzie displayed leadership and courage of a very high order at grave risk to themselves, and their action undoubtedly inspired others who later arrived at the scene of the crash to do likewise. Had it not been for the action taken by these officers, F/O Gillette undoubtedly would have died in the cockpit.

The two pilot instructors aboard the de Havilland Chipmunk DHC-1 CT-120 18050 were Flying Officer Patrick Bernard Gillette age 24 and Flying Officer Allan William Thomson. As stated, F/O. Thompson was killed on impact. F/O Gillette sadly died 12 days later as a result of his burns.


Francis Earl (Red) McLaren died at Langley Memorial Hospital, Langley, British Columbia, Canada on 19 July 2001 aged 81.






BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE CREW


(1) Sqn Ldr. Francis Earl (Red) McLaren DFC, GM, CD was born on 26 December 1919 at Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada the son of Carl Harvey McLaren and Alexanderina Jenkins McLaren née Currie. He had one sibling: Jean McLaren.

The family later lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

After leaving school he became an officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He enlisted at Winnipeg on 17 October 1940. Inevitably nicknamed 'Red' on account of his hair colour he stood 6'2" and weighed 185 lbs.

After training at 1 Manning Depot at RCAF Toronto, Ontario, 1A Manning Depot at RCAF Picton, Ontario, RCAF Rockcliffe, Ottawa, Ontario, 1 Initial Training School at Eglinton Hunt Club, Toronto, 4 Elementary Flying Training School at RCAF Windsor Mills, Quebec and Course 33 (July 15 1941 - Sept 25 1941) at 9 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Summerside, Prince Edward Island he was awarded his Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant on 25 September 1941

He was posted to the Embarkation Depot on 26 September 1941 and to RAF Overseas on 19 October 1941

On 7 March 1943 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and on 7 September 1943 he was promoted to Flying Officer.

He married Margaret Hilda Foss (1922-1979) and although the date of his marriage is not known, in 1943 he was recorded as a married man at which time his wife was living with his parents at Suite No. 7, 705 Westminster Avenue, Winnipeg. The couple went on to have 3 sons: Brian David McLaren (1949-2000), Lea Bruce McLaren and Lance Scott McLaren

As noted earlier he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 15 October 1943 and the George Medal on 9 February 1963. Further details of his post war life have been included earlier in the text.

Francis Earl (Red) McLaren died at Langley Memorial Hospital, Langley, British Columbia, Canada on 19 July 2001 aged 81.



(2) WO1. Leonard Reginald "Len" Brennan was born on 26 February 1911 at Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia the son of Harold Richard Brennan and Elizabeth Cecilia Brennan nee Fallon of 13 Bowns Road, Kogarah.

Len had nine siblings; Joseph Richard Brennan (1908-1949), Mary Cecilia "Marie" Brennan (1909-2001), Harold Richard Brennan (1912-1925), Catherine Veronica "Kit" Brennan (1914-1986), Francis John Brennan (1915-2003), Patricia Mary Brennan (1916-1997), Gregory Arthur Brennan (1918-2010), Herbert Nathanial Brennan (1919-1985) and Vincent James Brennan (1921-2020). The family lived at 13 Bowns Road, Kogarah.

Len was educated at Marist Brothers Juniorate at Mittagong, Sydney from 1925 to 1928, Marist Brothers High School at Darlinghurst, Sydney from 1928 to 1930 and St Joseph's College at Hunters Hill, Sydney in 1930.

After leaving school in 1930, he worked as a Motor Driver until 1937, the year which also saw the death of his father at the age of 62. From 1937, Len was employed by the Electricity Meter Manufacturing Co., as a Refrigerator Packer.

In 1930 he was a member of the GPS 1st XV and later played rugby league, notably for three seasons in the first grade with Sydney club St George Dragons from 1932 to 1934, including the 1933 Grand Final.

He applied for aircrew at Woolloomooloo, a suburb of Sydney, on 23 December 1940 and enlisted at No. 2 Recruiting Centre, Sydney on 3 February 1943. Aged almost 30, he was described as 5'5" tall weighing 140 lbs with a medium complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes.

In November 1941 his engagement to Miss Patricia Dulcie Barton of Forbes, was announced.

Following training at 3 Initial Training Centre RAAF Sandgate Queensland (Course 20 (P). Passed 8 December 1941) and 6 Elementary Flying training School at RAAF Narromine, New South Wales (Course 20 (P). Passed 5 March 1942), he embarked at Melbourne for Canada on 22 March 1942.

On arrival in Canada he was posted to 5 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Brantford, Ontario on 9 May 1942 where he joined Course 55. Graduating on 28 August 1942 he was awarded his Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant.

He was posted to 34 Operational Training unit at RCAF Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick on 11 September and four days later to 31 RAF Personnel Department based at RCAF Moncton, New Brunswick.

The photograph below was taken whilst he was on leave in New York prior to embarking for the UK.


On 25 September 1942 he embarked for the UK and disembarking on 8 October was posted to 3 Personnel Reception Centre at Bournemouth. He was then posted to 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Church Lawford in Warwickshire on 27 October and on 5 January 1943 to 21 Operational Training Unit at RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

Promoted to Flight Sergeant on 28 February 1943 he was Supernumerary Pending Posting Overseas from 11 March until 5 May when he left the UK for North Africa. On arrival on 8 May he joined 104 Squadron at Gardabia Main. Details of his service with 104 Squadron are included in the text.

Leonard Reginald Brennan is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra- Panel 119.


(3) Sgt. Frank Edward Bobby was born on 12 August 1914 at Wandsworth, London the son of Edward Bobby and Eva Maud Bobby nee Godber later of Wallington, Surrey. He had three siblings; Edward W. Bobby born 1913, Jack Bobby born 1916 and Arthur Bobby born 1920.

In 1939 the family lived at 9 Smallholdings, Little Woodcote, Carshalton, Surrey. Edward Bobby was a self-employed Market Gardener and ARP Observer.


(4) Sgt. Roland Osborne Charles Harris was born in 1922 at Lewisham, Kent the son of Captain Ernest Harris (a Sales Representative for Ford Distributors) and Hilda M. Harris nee Hodges. In 1939 the family lived at 6 Browning Road Waterloo Liverpool. He had a sister, Heather J.E. Harris born 1926.

Roland Osborne Charles Harris is commemorated on the St John's Waterloo War Memorial, Liverpool, Merseyside.


(5) Sgt. Derek James Aspinall Robson was born in 1920 at Walsall, Staffordshire, the son of James Alfred Robson (a Schoolmaster) and Winifred Theresa Robson nee Aspinall, of Walsall, Staffordshire. He had a sister Valerie C. Robson born 1923.

In 1939 the family lived at 66 Lichfield Road Walsall Staffs


(6) Fl/Sgt. Trevor William Robert Jones was born on 20 January 1922 at Auburn, South Australia the son of James Edward Jones (a Grazier) and Annie P. Jones. Trevor attended St. Peter's School (thought to be in Adelaide albeit 70 miles from Auburn) from 1936 to 1938 and later studied Advanced Arithmetic with Stott's Correspondence College from 1938 to 1940. After leaving school he worked in engineering, fitting and repairs and like his father, as a Grazier.

He also played cricket, football and tennis.

When he enlisted at Adelaide on 27 June 1940 he was 5' 9½" tall weighing 142 lbs with light brown hair, green eyes and a sallow complexion. After training at No 1 Initial Training School at RAAF Somers, Victoria; No 1 Wireless and Gunnery School at RAAF Ballarat, Victoria; and No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at RAAF Port Pirie, South Australia he was awarded his Air Gunners Badge and promoted to Sergeant on 22 August 1941.

On 18 September he embarked for Canada from where he embarked for the UK on 22 October where he was posted to No. 3 Personnel and Reception Centre at Bournemouth. He was posted to No. 7 Air Gunnery School at RAF Stormy Down, South Wales on 7 February 1942. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 22 February and on 17 March he was posted to RAF Harwell, Berkshire for training on night bomber crews on the Vickers Wellington.

Posted to No. 2 Middle East Training School on 23 September 1942 he was posted to No. 70 Squadron at Abu Sueir, Egypt on 26 October. On 1 January 1943 he was posted to No. 104 Squadron at Landing Ground 237 aka Kilo 40 near Cairo. The Squadron moved briefly to Solluch in Libya and to Gardabia on 14 February 1943.

Trevor William Robert Jones is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra - Panel No. 124



On behalf of Aircrew Remembered, Roy Wilcock would like to thank Canadian researcher, colleague and friend, Dave Champion for his invaluable assistance and contributions to this story and his continuing efforts to enhance our research.




BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS


(2) Fl/Sgt. Leonard Reginald Brennan - having no known grave he is commemorated on the Malta Memorial Panel 11, Column 2.

(3) Sgt. Frank Edward Bobby - having no known grave he is commemorated on the Malta Memorial Panel 7, Column 1.

(4) Sgt. Roland Osborne Charles Harris - originally buried at the Hospital Cemetery on Lampedusa was re-interred on 1 December 1944 at Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia Grave Ref: 5.B.31

No epitaph

(5) Sgt. Derek James Aspinall Robson - having no known grave he is commemorated on the Malta Memorial Panel 9, Column 1.

6) Fl/Sgt. Trevor William Robert Jones - having no known grave he is commemorated on the Malta Memorial Panel 11, Column 2.







Researched by Aircrew Remembered researcher Roy Wilcock for all the relatives and friends of the members of this crew - originally written October 2018 and revised July 2024.

With thanks to the sources quoted below.

RW 06.10.2018 original report.

RW 19.07.2024 revised version

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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