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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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65 Squadron crest
11.11.1941 No. 65 Squadron Spitfire Vb W3629 Sgt. Morcom

Operation: Ramrod

Date: 11th November 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 65 Squadron 11 Group (motto: Vi et armis -'By force of arms')

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: W3629

Code: FZ-?

Base: RAF Westhampnett, West Sussex

Location: Dieppe area

Pilot: Sgt. George Desmond Morcom NZ/403470 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

We are very grateful to the Collection Manager of the Auckland War Memorial Museum who has made this page possible.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Sgt. Morcom took off at 14.45 hrs to attack an ammunition dump and train wagons. The formation flew at low level to France with several other squadrons and found visibility so poor that some aircraft nearly hit cliffs, violent evasive action being required to clear them.

One squadron turned back after becoming separated in 10/10ths cloud at low level. The squadron operation record books recorded that they cam under accurate fire from two flak ships near the French coast en route to the target.

Also lost on this operation:

402 Squadron Hurricane IIB BE472 Flown by 29 year old, Fl/Sgt. Marshall Robert Ross Vair R/71606 RCAF hit by flak and killed.

607 Squadron Hurricane IIb BE221 Flown by 24 year old, P/O. Linton William Stevenson NZ/404961 RNZAF also understood to have been hit by flak. Some brief details shown within this page.

234 Squadron Spitfire Vb W3934 Flown by 25 year old Sgt. Wilfred Ernest Sapsed 1253598 RAFVR.

Burial details:

Sgt. George Desmond Morcom. Janval Cemetery. Section F, Row B, Grave 10. Born on the 21st March 1921 at Christchurch, the son of George Young Morcom and Hilda Morcom (née Cossgrove), of North Beach, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Husband of Jean Inglis Arnott Morcom (née Percy), of Christchurch. A clerk for P and T prior to service. A total of 269 flying hours logged and on his 9th operational sortie.

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 Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

Note: Auckland Weekly News 03 December 1941. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19411203-34-6 (If you wish to reuse the image of the pilot - please contact us for licence details)

KTY 01.11.2019

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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