Operation: Reconnaissance, Awash-Adama area, Ethiopia

Date: 28th March 1941 (Friday)

Unit: No. 203 Squadron

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV

Serial: T2255

Base: RAF Khormaskar, Aden

Location: Awash area, Ethiopia

Pilot: F/O. Peter Moller 42318 RAF Age 25 Killed (1)

Nav: Sgt. George Edward Salisbury 751754 RAFVR Age 20 Killed (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Alexander Davidson 749590 RAFVR Age 24 Killed (3)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Blenheim T2255 took of from RAF Khormaksar on a reconnaissance operation in the Awash-Adama area of Ethiopia. It is beleived that the aircraft was hit by flak and crashed near Awash, Ethiopia.

Burial details:

Alamein Memorial, Egypt (courtesy Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

The Air Forces panels commemorate more than 3,000 airmen of the Commonwealth who died in the campaigns in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Greece, Crete and the Aegean, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Somalilands, the Sudan, East Africa, Aden and Madagascar, who have no known grave. Those who served with the Rhodesian and South African Air Training Scheme and have no known grave are also commemorated here.

F/O. Peter Moller. Alamein Memorial. Column 241. Son of Laurits Peter Leopold Moller and Jennie Moller of Frederikshavn, Denmark (1) Peter was born on the 15th January 1916 in Denmark. Peter spent four years at Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire. After enlisting Peter was granted a short service commission as Acting Pilot Officer on probation on 8th July 1939 and was confirmed as Pilot Officer on the 15th May 1940. Peter was promoted to Flying Officer on the 20th February 1941. Flying Officer Peter Moller is remembered on the Cheltenham College Roll of Honour.

Sgt. George Edward Salisbury. Sgt. Salisbury back row 3rd from the left. (both pictures courtesy Mrs Betty Ash, George's sister)

Sgt. George Edward Salisbury. Alamein Memorial. Column 243. Son of John and Florence Salisbury of Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire (2) George Edward Salisbury was born on the 17 August 1920 in Winchester, he moved to Portchester at the age of two, and completed part of his education at Castle Street school, Portchester.

George volunteered for the RAF just after the war broke out in 1939 and he completed part of his training at RAF Weston-Super-Mare. George's first flight with No 203 Squadron on 17th January 1941 flying with pilot F/Lt. Whittal in Blenheim IV T1821. This was followed by a further six combat patrol flight with the last on the 28th February 1941. From the 6th March 1941 Sgt. G E Salisbury was the Navigator on nine further operation which undertook flights on Escort duties, Fighter Patrols, Shipping reconnaissance and Air Firing in named areas of Ethiopia.

Mrs Betty Ash and the late Mrs Molly Burton twin sisters of George Salisbury (courtesy Mrs Betty Ash)

Memorial plaque returned to war hero's family (courtesy InTouch Magazine 2006)

Several plaques once hung on the walls of the Civic Office reception area before the reconstruction of the ground floor. Oldest of the plaques, which used to be on the wall in the old Westbury Manor council chamber was instituted by NALGO soon after the wa to commemorate George Salisbury, a member of the former Urban Council's treasury department, who was killed in action. George had been a choirboy at St Mary's Church, Portchester, and on the outbreak of war volunteered for the RAF and qualified for aircrew as an observer. He was posted to the Middle East and was lost flying on a mission from Aden on March 28, 1941. George's twin sisters, Mrs Molly Burton and Mrs Betty Ash, still live in Portchester and when the ground floor of the Civic Office was stripped, they asked if their brother's memorial could be given to the family. Councillor Ernest Crouch was pleased to return it to Molly and Betty who will ensure that it will remain in the family as a proud and honoured memory of a gallant young man.

Right: Fareham War Memorial

Sgt. George Edward Salisbury's name was not added to the Fareham War Memorial until Monday 3rd November 2014.

Sgt. William Alexander Davidson. Alamein Memorial. Column 242. Son of William and Winifred Davidson of Exmouth, Devon (3) William is remembered on the Exmouth War Memorial.

Special thanks to Mrs Betty Ash and the late Mrs Molly Burton (sisters of George Edward Salisbury) and their families.

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew and the resources listed below.

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