Archive Report: Allied Forces

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13.06.1943 No. 180 Squadron B-25 Mitchell II FL677 Sq/Ldr. Donald G. Ogilvie DFC

Operation: Schelde Shipyard

Date: 13th June 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 180 Squadron

Type: B-25 Mitchell II

Serial: FL677

Base: RAF Foulsham, Norfolk

Location: Westerschelde, Holland

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Donald Gordon Ogilvie DFC. 40010 RAF Age 27. Killed

Nav: F/O. Philip Corfield Jackson 131159 RAFVR Age 31. Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. David John Frank Jenkins 923035 RAFVR Age 26. Missing

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Vincent John Browne 1289897 RAFVR Age 22. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

The operation was to bomb the Schelde Shipyard and Dornier aircraft wing factory at Flushing with 6 Mitchells from 180 squadron with a further 6 from 98 squadron. During the operation they had fighter cover from 169 squadron using Mustangs which engaged Fw 190’s.

Above area of operations with insert Sq/Ldr. Donald Gordon Ogilvie DFC. (courtesy Sherborne School archive)

The bombers were each loaded with 4 x 1000b bombs and some damage was caused to the workshops, cloud cover prevented accurate aerial photographs to assess the damage. The units came under intense anti-aircraft fire from the Marine Flak Abteilung 810, under the command of Lieutenant Commander MA Dr. Ernst-August Hartmann.

It was during the bombing run that FL677 received a direct hit and was last seen in a spin on fire. The aircraft crashed some 800 metres off the coast into the Westerschelde at 09:17 hrs. The only body recovered was that of the pilot, Sq/Ldr. Ogilvie DFC.

Sherborne School, Dorset - Any further information that you are able to assist them with fallen former pupils from all wars, we would be pleased to pass onto them. 

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Donald Gordon Ogilvie DFC. Flushing Northern Cemetery (Vlissingen) Row E. Grave 20. Further details courtesy of Sherborne School Archives: Born 16 October 1916, son of Gerald Albinus Brown, later known as Gerald Albinus Ogilvie (Old Shirburnian) of 81 Park View Court, High Street, Hurlingham, London, formerly of Knaresborough Lodge, Midhope Road, Woking, England. Attended Allen House preparatory school, Woking. Attended Sherborne School (The Green) May 1930-July 1932. Prior to RAF service with Imperial Airways. Husband of Iris 'Fluff', née Jones of Cardigan, Wales. Further information on Iris 'Fluff' Bower.

Obituary, 'The Shirburnian', December 1944: 'Donald Gordon Ogilvie, Squadron-Leader, RAF, was reported missing, believed killed, in June 1943, his death in action being presumed in February 1944. He left School very young and joined Imperial Airways Ltd. He was awarded the DFC in February 1941.'

F/O. Philip Corfield Jackson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 125. Son of Arthur Randell Jackson and Ada Mary Jackson, husband of Margaret Jackson, of Upper Wyche, Worcestershire, England.

Sgt. David John Frank Jenkins. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 155. Son of Mrs. A. A. Jenkins, husband of Ruby Jenkins, of Felpham, Sussex, England.

Sgt. Vincent John Browne. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 144. Son of William Vincent Browne and Winifred Marion Browne, husband of Joan Mary Browne, of Womenswold, Kent, England.

With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information. For further details our thanks to the sources shown below. Thanks also to Mark Ogilvie for sending information on the wife of Sq/Ldr. Donald Ogilvie DFC.

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