Operation: Scramble

Date: 08th July 1942 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 249 Squdron (motto: Pugnis et calcibus - 'With fists and heels')

Type: Spitfire Vc

Serial: BR233

Code: T-Q

Base: Ta Kali, Malta

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: F/O. John Smith 60108 RAFVR Age 26. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Weather: Wind south-easterly, no cloud, slight haze.

In May 1941 249 squadron was transferred to Malta by the aircraft carrier, 'USS Wasp' (1).

Sixty four, MK Vc Spitfires were loaded onto the American Carrier. Spitfires were being shipped to Malta by Carrier as it was impossible to safely fly from the British bases or from Gibraltar. The plan was to get as close to Malta as possible then launch the Spitfires and they would then fly to Malta and in some cases land during a bombing attack, at the time Malta was the most bombed place on the planet.

The Spitfires were not equipped with arrestor hooks so landing back on the carrier in case of trouble was out of the question. On May the 9th once, the USS Wasp was 580 miles West of Malta the Spitfires were launched. All took off with no problem.

At 06:30 hrs eight Spitfires from 603 Squadron and eight of 249 Squadron, Ta Qali are scrambled to intercept seven Ju88's with fighter escort, approaching the Island.

F/O. Smith and 20 year old, P/O. John Carlton Gilbert 127785 RAFVR flying BR227 T-T made passing attacks at the bombers but were themselves attacked by the Bf 109s. Smith's Spitfire caught fire following the first pass, before being hit by two further Bf 109s, exploding before he had a chance to bail out. Gilbert's Spitfire then received the same treatment. It rolled over onto its back and dived into the sea off Wied-iz-Zurrieq. No parachute was seen.

During the same operation 29 year old, F/O. Neville Stuart King 112178 RAFVR of 603 squadron was also listed as missing. Flying Spitfire BE198, he turned steeply and a wingtip touched the sea, disintegrating the aircraft.

(1) Later, USS Wasp was hit by Japanese torpedoes from a Type B1 submarine. Captain Forrest Percival Sherman ordered the crew to abandon the ship at 15:20 hrs on Tuesday, 15 September 1942. 193 men had died and 366 were wounded during the attack. All but one of her 26 airborne aircraft made a safe trip to carrier Hornet nearby before Wasp sank, but 45 aircraft went down with the ship.

On the 14th January 2019, Wasp's wreck was located by the research vessel 'Petrel'. The carrier sits upright in 14,255 feet of water, though parts of the hull appear to have split.

Burial details:

F/O. John Smith. Malta Memorial. Panel 3. Column 1. Son of the late Sidney Smith and Helena Maud Smith, of Torquay, Devon, England.

P/O. John Carlton Gilbert. Malta Memorial. Panel 3. Column 1. Son of Dorine Marie Gilbert, of West Kensington, London, England.

F/O. Neville Stuart King. Malta Memorial. Panel 3. Column 1. Born on the 24th March 1913 in Foxrock, Rathdown, Dublin. Served as a policeman in the Metropolitan Police H Division as a Station Inspector. Son of Joseph Lowry King (died 02nd October 1927, age 60) and Charlotte Mary King (née Stack) and husband of Brenda King (ne2e Howarth), of Leeds, Yorkshire, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these pilots with thanks to War Dead of North Down and Ards, Roll of Honour, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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