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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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485 Squadron Crest
27.08.1941 No. 485 Squadron Spitfire Vb W3527 OU-M F/O. Middleton

Operation: Circus 85

Date: 27th August 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 485 Squadron (11 Group)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: W3527

Code: OU-M

Base: RAF Redhill, Surrey

Location: Audruicq, France

Pilot: F/O. William Arthur Middleton NZ/39928 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 06:20 hrs with 10 others from the squadron but failed to meet up with the bombers. They decided to continue to the target area of St. Omer in France. They encountered heavy Luftwaffe presence when crossing the French coast at 08:32 hrs.

F/O. Middleton was shot down just north of Audruicq in France, killing the young New Zealander.

No. 485 Squadron 1941 - Standing, (L-R): French; P/O. Donald Stuart McGregor NZ/401280; Fl/Lt. Richard Barrett NZ/391324; F/O. William Arthur Middleton NZ/39928;, Allan Shaw; Graham Howe Francis;, John C. Martin NZ/40313; Marcus Knight (CO); Francis Noel Brinsden NZ/40338; Patrick Stewart McBride; Athol Gordon McIntyre NZ/36257;, Thomas Gordon Smith NZ/414692; Bengard; Neville; Gordon Ernest Erridge Kneeling front, left to right: James William George NZ/40722; Murray; A.W. Morton; Hal Thomas; Richard John Bullen NZ/40753; Bill Crawford-Compton NZ/65500; Jack Maney NZ/0240; James Kerrow "Jim" Porteous (aka 'Pranger'); Austin B. Smith; Harvey Nelson Sweetman NZ/40992; and Kevin Desmond Cox NZ/401257.

Burial details:

F/O. William Arthur Middleton. Dunkirk Town Cemetery. Plot 2. Row 2. Grave 17. Born on the 31st December 1918, the son of Frederick Charles Middleton and of Jean Caroline Myrtle Middleton, of Auckland City, New Zealand. 370 flying hours logged and having completed 74 operational operations.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 15.10.2018

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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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