AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: 1914 - 1918
Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
137
137 Squadron Whirlwind P7630 F/O. Edward Lancelot Musgrave DFC

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:

KTY 01-06-2025

Acknowledgements: Sources used by us in compiling WW1 material include: Dunnigan, James F. (2003). How to Make War: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-060090-12-8.Durkota, Allen; Darcey, Thomas; Kulikov, Victor (1995). The Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I. Mountain View: Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-0-060090-12-8.Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.Franks, Norman (2005). Sopwith Pup Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-841768-86-1.Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W. (1992). Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.Guttman, Jon (2009). Pusher Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-846034-17-6.Guttman, Jon (2001). Spad VII Aces of World War I: Volume 39 of Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-841762-22-7.Kulikov, Victor (2013). Russian Aces of World War 1: Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-780960-61-6.Newton, Dennis (1996). Australian Air Aces: Australian Fighter Pilots in Combat. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-1-875671-25-0.Pieters, Walter M. (1998). Above Flanders Fields: A Complete Record of the Belgian Fighter Pilots and Their Units During the Great War. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-83-1.Shores, Christopher (2001). British and Empire Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-377-4.Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1996). Above the Trenches Supplement: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-39-8., Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it
Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered Last Modified: 01 June 2025, 13:09

If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.