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Operation: Circus 103B (Mazingarbe), France
Date: 27th September 1941 (Saturday)
Unit No: 72 Squadron (motto: 'Swift'), Fighter Command
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: P8560
Code: SD:?
Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
Location: North Sea
Pilot: Sgt. John Graham Merrett 402294 RAAF Age 25. KiA
REASON FOR LOSS:
Circus 103B, Escort bombers on a mission to bomb power station at Mazingarbe in France
12 aircraft with the Wing entered France over Mardyck, shortly afterwards when 10 to 15 miles inland SW of St. Omer the formation was attacked by a large formation of enemy aircraft, which approached from the SW. During the ensuing dogfights during which one enemy aircraft was shot down with one probable. Sgt. Merrett was one of two pilots from the squadron that failed to return.
Also lost on the same operation:
72 Squadron Spitfire Vb AB843 Flown by Sgt. Albert Frederick Binns 1375801 RAFVR MiA
129 Squadron Spitfire Vb W3824 Flown by Sgt. J.A Spence-Ross 778253 RAFVR PoW No. 436 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus
308 Squadron Spitfire Vb W3940 Flown by Sgt. Ernest Feliks Watolski 783288 PAF PoW No: 9680 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan.
402 Squadron Spitfire IIb Z5005 Flown by Plt Off. S.A. Graham J3707 RCAF PoW No. 3807 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan.
403 Squadron Spitfire Vb AD207 Flown by Sqn Ldr. Roland Anthony Lee Knight DFC. 37772 RAF KiA
603 Squadron Spitfire V R7221 Flown by Sgt. W.J. Allard 1253159 RAFVR PoW No: 9687 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan.
603 Squadron Spitfire V W3233 Flown by Flt Sgt. William James Archibald R/68551 RCAF KiA
611 Squadron Spitfire Vb W3442 Flown by Sgt. G.T. Evans R65407 RCAF PoW No: 9663 Camp: L6
Many others returned to units with various degrees of damage.
Burial details
The pilot's body was eventually washed up on the 23rd October at Vlissingen.
Sgt. John Graham Merrett. Flushing Northern Cemetery (Vlissingen). Row B. Grave 14. Born on the 3rd November 1915 at Sydney, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Merrett, of 17 Ruby Street, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia.
A clerk prior to service. Trained on the Harvard and Yale aircraft. Joined 72 Squadron from 57 Operational Training Unit on the 9th September 1941.
Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the pilot and his relatives. Updated with new mission information by Aircrew Remembered (Feb 2024).
Other sources listed below:
RS 09.02.2024 - Reviewed and updated
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Last Modified: 09 February 2024, 07:46