Operation: Partro;

Date:cc27th May 1940 ((Tuesday)

Unit: No. 54 Squadron (motto: Audax omnia perpeti - 'Boldness endures anything')

Type: Spitfire Ia

Serial: N3030 (1)

Code: KL-T

Base: RAF Hornchurch, Essex

Location: English Channel

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Maxwell Charles Pearson 33274 RAF Age ? Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Operation 'Dynamo' began on 26 May. Strong defences were established around Dunkirk, and the Royal Air Force sent all available aircraft to protect the evacuation. Over 800 naval vessels of all shapes and sizes helped to transport troops across the English Channel. The last British troops were evacuated on 3 June, with French forces covering their escape. Churchill and his advisers had expected that it would be possible to rescue only 20,000 to 30,000 men, but in all 338,000 troops were rescued from Dunkirk, a third of them French. Ninety thousand remained to be taken prisoner and the BEF left behind the bulk of its tanks and heavy guns. All resistance in Dunkirk ended at 9.30am on 4 June.

Fl/Lt. Pearson took off from RAF Hornchurch for a patrol covering the evacuation of Dunkirk. He was last seen chasing a Ju88. Neither the body of the pilot was knowingly found an no wreckage was discovered.

Above: L9 to R: F/ Lt Maxwell Charles Pearson (MIA 1940), Sgt Jack Davis (died 1989, age 73), P/O George Walter Couzens (died 1078, age 70), F/Lt James Anthony Leathart, (died 1998, age 83) F/O Dorian George Gribble (MIA 1940, age 21) , P/O Johnny Lawrence Allen KIA 1940, age 23) and P/O Alan Christopher Deere.(died 1995, age 78)

(1) N3030: Spitfire Mk.Ia (c/no. 319). First Flown 13-9-39. Delivered to the RAF at 9 MU Cosford 17-9-39. First issued to 19 Squadron 3-10-39. Transferred to 54 Squadron 10-1-40. Written off (destroyed) when lost (Missing on patrol) near Dunkerque. Pas de Calais 27-5-40. Pilot killed.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Maxwell CCharles Pearson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 4. Son of John Charles and Emily Pearson. No further details - are you able to assist?

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archives Kew.

Other sources as quoted below:

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