Operation: Flare dropping
Date: 18/19th August 1944 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No. 98 Squadron. 139 Wing, 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force
Type: Mitchell II
Serial: HD329
Code: VO-B
Base: RAF Dunsford, Surrey
Location: Lost without trace
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Alick Mewa NZ/414320 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed
Nav: Fl/Lt. Laxman Shripad Ajrekar 125917 RAFVR Age 27. Missing - believed killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Albert Ernest Nicholls 968037 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Frank Fenn Pitt 630113 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 23:48hrs to drop flares in support of Mosquito operations in the Falaise area and lost without trace, the four crew being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Above left: Fl/Lt. Alick Mewa with F/O. Mervyn Jack Mills at Levin, New Zealand 1941 (courtesy Brian Vonlanthen)
We welcome any further information on this loss or crew.
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Alick Mewa. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 262. Born on the 23rd February 1919 at Auckland, the son of Ranjan Mewa, and of Piyari Mewa (née Dudley), of 23 Rawene Avenue, Westmere, Wellington, New Zealand. Attended Richmond Road Primary School and then Auckland Grammar School. Prior to enlisting in the RNZAF on the 27th July 1941 worked as a structural engineer for Steel Construction Company of Auckland. A total of 654 flying hours logged. The first Indian member of the RNZAF to be commissioned.
Fl/Lt. Laxman Shripad Ajrekar. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 201. Son of Shripad Laxman Ajrekar and Venubai Ajrekar, of Poona, India.
W/O. Albert Ernest Nicholls. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 214. Son of William Donald and Caroline Anne Nicholls, of Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales.
W/O. Frank Fenn Pitt. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 203. No further details - are you able to assist?
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Brian Vonlanthen (nephew of F/O. Mervyn Jack Mills) and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 03.01.2020
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 04 April 2021, 11:14