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Operation: Interception
Date: 20th January 1943 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 157 Squadron (motto: 'Our cannon speak our thoughts')
Type: Mosquito II
Serial: DD777
Code: RS-?
Base: RAF Hunsdon, Essex
Location: North Sea - 30 miles east of Clacton-On-Sea
Pilot: F/O. Keith Walter Paul AUS/411817 RAAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed
Nav: P/O. Cornelius Patrick Finbarr Cronin 60358 RAFVR Age 30. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Hunsdon north of Harlow in Essex at 20:00 hrs on an interception patrol and vectored to enemy aircraft at about 12,000 ft some 30 miles east of Clacton-On-Sea.
F/O. Paul reported that he was out of control ar 22:25 hrs from what is thought to be from an attack from an enemy aircraft which they had engaged. Nothing further was heard and both crew members listed as missing.
On this day Germany's daytime bombardment of the Sandhurst Road School killed 41 schoolchildren, ranging in age from 6 to 14 years old, along with six teachers. The school was located in the London suburb of Catford and the German Luftwaffe bombers arrived with little warning.
Burial details:
F/O. Keith Walter Paul. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 189. Born on the 09th October 1916 at Parramatta, the son of Walter Robert Paul and of Lily Elizabeth Kate Paul of 22 Wigram Street, Granville, New South Wales, Australia. Joined 157 Squadron from 51 Operational Trading Unit on the 14th October 1942. Trained on the Tiger Moth, Avro Anson and the Cessna Crane. Prior to service when he enlisted on the 02nd September 1940, worked as a clerk.
Nav: P/O. Cornelius Patrick Finbarr Cronin. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 189. Son of Daniel and Teresa Cronin. (Batchelor of Arts, London)
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the Australian Archives and to the sources indicated below:
KTY 15.05.2019
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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