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Operation: Circus C-1
Date: 15th April 1942 (Wednesday)
Unit: 616 Squadron, 10 Group (motto: Nulla Rosa Sine Spina - 'No rose without a thorn')
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: BL754
Code: YQ:?
Base: RAF Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire
Location: English Channel
Pilot: Sgt. Phillip Charles Miller 404939 RAAF Age 25. Injured
REASON FOR LOSS:
During a Circus, the aircraft developed engine trouble and the pilot was forced to ditch some 4 miles south of Dungeness in the English Channel.
He was rescued by a Royal Air Force High-Speed launch and he was transferred to the Union Road Hospital, Dover and suffered cuts on the face and a broken bone in the foot. He was admitted to RAF Halton hospital on the 7th May 1942 for 1 day and again on the 22nd May 1942 until the 13th June 1942. He also survived a crash landing on the 5th of February 1943.
On the 13th of April 1943 - Commissioned and promoted to Plt Off. and posted to No. 11 (RAAF) Personnel Despatch & Receiving Centre (PDRC), Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Returned to Australia and disembarked on the 4th of July 1943.
Above: Sgt. Phillip Charles Miller and Sgt. Ralph Ernest Waters (note) on leaving the Empire Air Training Scheme 1941 in Canada back to the United Kingdom.
Note: Whilst based at RAF Andreas on the Isle of Man, Sgt. Ralph Ernest Waters was killed on Friday, the 10th of April 1942 flying a Spitfire with 452 Squadron. During training and carrying out practice formations he was seen to be lagging in the formation. After an order to 'break' Sgt. Waters was not seen and it wasn't until the unit returned to base that they realised that he was in fact missing? The Coast Guard later informed the unit that they had observed a Spitfire crashing into the sea off St. Bees Head, neither his body or the aircraft were recovered.
Above: Pilots of 616 squadron unknown date and place. Labelled Left to Right: Plt Off. Strouts; Sgt. Davidson; Sgt. Miller; Fg Off. Johnson and the dog 'Pusher’ (Courtesy of Bob Miller).
Identification and fates of the above pilots:
Plt Off. Harley Richard Strouts J15207 RCAF Shot down on the 12th April 1942. Spitfire Vb AD375, KiA;
Sgt. George Leslie Davidson 404904 RNZAF Crashed whilst performing unauthorised aerobatics on the 13th April 1942 at Wansford Aerodrome, Northants. Spitfire Vb AD543, Killed;
Fg Off. James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson DFC & Bar, DSO & 2 Bars 83267 RAFVR
DFC awarded to Flying Officer James Edgar JOHNSON (83267), RAFVR, 616 Squadron. Citation: "This officer has participated in forty-six operational sorties over enemy territory and has destroyed at least four hostile aircraft. Flying Officer Johnson has at all times shown great courage". London gazette 30th September 1941".
Bar to DFC. Acting Flight Lieutenant James Edgar JOHNSON, DFC (83267), RAFVR, 616 Squadron. Citation: "Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in September, 1941, this officer has participated in many sweeps over enemy territory, during which he has destroyed 2 Messerschmitt 109 F's and damaged a Focke Wulfe 190. He has also carried out a large number of convoy patrols. Flight Lieutenant Johnson is an exceptional leader and the magnificent example he sets is an inspiration to other pilots". London gazette 26th June 1942.
DSO as Wg Cdr. "This officer has led a wing on a large number of occasions and has displayed outstanding skill and gallantry. During an operation, one morning in May, 1943 his formation was heavily engaged by a large force of enemy fighters. In the ensuing combats 4 enemy aircraft were destroyed without loss. The same afternoon he took part in a similar sortie and 3 enemy fighters were destroyed, 1 of them by Wing Commander Johnson. The next day, this officer took part in another successful sortie. By his skilful and courageous leadership, Wing Commander Johnson contributed materially to the success achieved. He has destroyed at least 13 enemy aircraft". London Gazette 4th June 1943.
Bar to DSO as Wg Cdr with 127 Wing. Citation "Since being awarded the Distinguished Service Order this officer has destroyed a further 7 enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of another. He is a relentless fighter whose brilliant leadership and outstanding skill have inspired all with whom he has flown. Within a period of 2 months, Wing Commander Johnson led large formations of aircraft on very many sorties during which 27 hostile aircraft were shot down and a large number were damaged". London Gazette 24th September 1943.
2nd Bar to DSO as Wg Cdr with 144 Wing. Citation "Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order, this officer has led large formations of aircraft in many and varied sorties. During these operations 34 enemy aircraft have been destroyed several of them by Wing Commander Johnson himself. He is a magnificent leader, whose unsurpassed skill and personal courage have inspired all. Wing Commander Johnson has destroyed at least 28 hostile aircraft". London Gazette 7th July 1944,
Awarded the Order of Leopold with Palme and Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palme by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Belgium. London Gazette 27th June 1947,
Awarded the Air Medal, conferred by the President of the United States. London Gazette 25th May 1951,
James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson passed away on 30th January 2001 aged 85.
Burial details:
None:
Sgt. Phillip Charles Miller survived the war and shortly after this incident transferred back to Australia to continue his service. Born on the 3rd August 1917 at Launceston, Tasmania. Son of Robert Brand Miller of Hillwood, East Tamar,Tasmania. Husband of Christine Mary Miller, 90 Balmoral Street, Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. Enlisted on the 3rd January 1941 and a timber contractor prior to service. Enlisting on the 3rd January 1941. Passed away in 1995, aged 78.
4th July 1943 - No. 3 Embarkation Depot (ED), RAAF Station Sandgate, Brisbane;
23rd July 1943 - No 1 ED, Melbourne Showgrounds, Victoria;
8th August 1943 - No. 2 Operational (Fighter) Training Unit (OTU), West Sale, Victoria;
Promoted to Fg Off. wef 13th September 1943;
13th March 1944 - No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool (RPP), RAAF Base Pool camp, Townsville;
15th March 1944 - No. 15 Aircraft Repair Dept (ARD), Port Moresby;
6th October 1944 - No. 2 Personnel Depot (PD), RAAF Bradfield Park, Sydney;
27th November 1944 - No. 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (ARD), Queensland where he was employed as a Test Pilot;
5th February 1945 - Landing accident during test flight of Boomerang A46-220 BF:U. The aircraft developed an uncontrollable swing to starboard and hit a pile of scattered timber at Breddan Strip 11:45 hrs. The aircraft suffered major damage. Deemed to Pilot error (error of judgement).
Above: Centre aircraft Boomerang A46-200 BF:U
Above: Sketch that was done at the time, by someone on the base, of the aftermath of the Boomerang incident (Courtesy of Robert Miller)
27th September 1945 - No. 3 Personnel Depot (PD), RAAF Station Sandgate, Brisbane;
3rd October 1945 - Demobilised from the RAAF.
Other:
Sgt. Ralph Ernest Waters. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 113. Born on the 26th April 1916 at Armadale, Victoria, the son of Ernest Charles and Ethel Caroline Waters, of 40 York Street, Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. A bank clerk prior to service into which he enlisted on the 31st January 1941 at Hobart. Trained on the Tiger Moth and Harvard aircraft.
Researched for relatives of both of these pilots. Detailed information supplied by Australian Archives. Thanks to Robert Miller, son of Phillip Charles Miller, for the sketch of the incident and photograph of 616 Sqn pilots (Mar 2022).
For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below.
RS 11.03.2022 - Update to narrative and addition of sketch and photograph
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them. - Laurence
Binyon
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