Operation: Shipping Reconnaissance

Date: 18th May 1943 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 137 Squadron (motto: 'Do right, fear naught')

Type: Westland Whirlwind (1)

Serial: P7063

Code: SF-?

Base: RAF Manston, Kent

Location: North Sea

Pilot: F/O. Edward Lancelot Musgrave DFC. Aus/403528 RAAF Age 25. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 01:10 hrs on a night recognisance shipping sortie over Gravelines, France.

Attacked shipping and at 01:38 hours he reported that he was going to in for a second attack, nothing further was heard from him.

(1) Westland Whirlwind/: When it first flew in 1938, the Whirlwind was one of the fastest combat aircraft in the world and, with four 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS. 404 auto-cannon in its nose, the most heavily armed. Protracted development problems with its Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines delayed the project and only 114 Whirlwinds were built

Burial details:

F/O. Edward Lancelot Musgrave DFC. Pihen-Les-Guines War Cemetery. Grave I.C.1. Born on the 26 February 1918 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Enlisted on the 01st February 1941. Embarked for Canada on 13th June, 1941 for training.
Son of William and Nellie Musgrave (married 15th September 1915 in Woollahra, NSW), husband of Jessie Eileen Musgrave (married 11th January 1941 in Bankstown, New South Wales), of 26 South Terrace, Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia. epitaph: ' Duty Nobly done, called Home',

London Gazette No. 35936, Dated 1943-03-12:

'This officer has taken part in a large number of operational missions. In attacks on the enemy’s communications in Northern France and Belgium he has damaged seven locomotives. One night in February 1943, he took off to search for a particular merchant escorted by 5 armed ships reported to be in the Channel. Although the night was very dark Flying Officer Musgrave sighted the vessel sailing close into the shore south of Boulogne. Skilfully approaching the merchant vessel he flew into attack but was frustrated by heavy fire from the coastal defences. Despite this he persisted and after diving through searchlights from the shore he attacked his objective, releasing bombs from a low level. Although his aircraft was damaged from the opposing fire from ships he flew in safely to his base. Flying Officer Musgrave displayed great courage, skill and determination in the execution of his tassk'

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the Australian Service Records, Paul McGuiness Australian Archives, National Archives, Kew AIR 27-937-9/10

Other sources as quoted below:

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