Operation: Air Test

Date: 09th November 1941 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 604 Squadron (County of Middlesex) (motto: Si vis pacem, para bellum – ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’.)

Type: Beaufighter IF

Serial: M3231

Code: NG-F

Base: RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire

Location: Bank of the Stour at Child Okeford

Pilot: F/O. Michael Edmund Staples 83242 RAFVR Age 24 Killed

Observer Sgt. F.G French RAFVR (no further details - are you able to assist?)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Earlier on the 07th October 1940 flying as Red 3 with Sgt Freary as his wingman i Res 2. Both behind their C/O W/Cdr. Michael Robinson Red 1. was shot down in a surprise attack by enemy fighters over Yeovil. He baled out, wounded, and was admitted to Blandford Hospital. His Spitfire N3231 crashed into the bank of the River Stour at Child Okeford, Shillingstone in Dorset.br>

The chaps from 'Wing Leader' created a video showing the recovery of the engine and the triple propellers and what happened that day. (click image above for recovery video to view video - at the end of this page see gun camera footage)

Took off at 18:55 hrs on an air test.
Crashed at Grateley during night return. Crashed at 21:05 hrs 3,5 miles north-west of the base (see map). The pilot was killed but his observer survived with multiple injuries.

The above photograph is marked Jubilant pilots of 609 Squadron pose at RAF Warmwell after the successful action against Junkers 87’s of II/STG 2 on the afternoon of 13th August 1940 (courtesy Gerard John Drake-Feary)

Standing L-R: P/O. ‘Red’ E. Quimby Tobin ✝, P/O. ‘Osti’ Ostazewski, P/O. G.N Gaunt ✝, P/O. P. Edge,? P/O.SG Beaumont, Fl/Lt. F.J Howell, Sq/Ldr. H.S Darley, Fl/Lt. J.H.G McArthur, Sgt A.N Feary ✝, P/O. T. Nowierski, P/O.C.N. Front: P/O. M.E Staples ✝, Fl/Lt. D.M Crook ✝ P/O. R.F.G Miller.

Notes on photograph: F/O. Eugene Quimby Tobin 81622 RAF Age 24 71 (Eagle Squadron) Killed on the 07th September 1941.P/O. Piotr Ostaszewski-Ostoja DFC 76741 PAF Survived war, understood to have died on the 08th May 1965 Age 55.
P/O. Geoffrey Norman Gaunt 91230 RAF (Aux) Killed 15th September 1940 Spitfire, R6690 609 Squadron.
P/O. Stephen Gerald Beaum survived the was passed away in September 1997 at Wiltshire, England.
Fl/Lt. Frank Jonathan Howell Shot down 18th July 1940 Spitfire I R6634, baled out, safe. But died om the 09th May 1948 after being struck accidentally by Spitfire wing tip, age 36.
Sq/Ldr. Horace Stanley 'George; Darley, survived the was, died in November 1999
Fl/Lt. ‘Butch’ James Henry Gordon McArthur, survived war, killed in accident at Las Vegas Airshow May 1961 age 48.
Sgt. Alan Norman Feary, killed on 7th October 1940, age 28, Spitfire, N3238 609 Squadron
F/O. Tadeusz Nowierski 76803 PAF Spitfire I N3223 Baled out safe - died on the 02nd April 1983 Age 76,
P/O. 'Teeny' Charles Nevil survived the was, died in October 1998. DFC. MiD x 2.
P/O. P/O. Michael Edmund Staples ✝ killed 08th November 1941, age 24. Beaufighter If T4638. 604 Squadron.
Fl/Lt. David Moore Crook, killed on the 18th December 1944. Spitfire IX EN662 609 Squadron.
P/O. Roger Freeman Garland Miller, killed on 27th September 1940 , age 20, Spitfire, X4107 609 squadron.

Burial and additional details:

F/O. Michael Edmund Staples. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 21.A.19. Born on 7th June 1917 in India. The family returned to the UK, landing at Liverpool aboard the 'City of Exeter' on 3rd April 1925 from Karachi. Called up on the 01st September 1939. After converting to Spitfires he joined 609 Squadron at Middle Wallop on 08th July. 1940.

Educated at Ampleforth College: The school has educated many notable figures including Lord Lord Bamford, Sir Antony Gormley, James O'Brien, Timothy Oulton, Robert Nairac, actor James Norton; painter Vincent Haddelsey, Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, authors Piers Paul Read and John William Polidori, historians William Dalrymple, Patrick French and John Keay.

Son of Maj. Edmund Cyril Staples, M.C. (died 1980, age 91) and Olive Clare Staples (née Coldwell - died 1973, age 91), of Lower Chessenden, Rolvenden, Kent;. Husband of Doreen Katherine Mary Staples (married October 1941 in Greenwich, London). His brother L/Cpl. PRS Staples 6464459 of the Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps, 49th (West Riding) Regiment was killed on 6th October 1944 aged 23 and lies in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. 'Husband Of Doreen Staples Introibo Ad Altare Dei Ad Deum Qui Laetificat Juventutem Meam R.I.P.

His father's MC. Citation (Bushire, Persia/Iran):
'11th Rajputs: Lieutenant E.C. Staples; No 1829 Sepoy Ram Kishor Singh. The four machine guns of the 11th Rajputs were also heavily engaged, two of them also at Zangina and the other two south of Outpost 4 (Point B on the Bushire map) where the enemy were attacking from the palm groves on the Mashileh. Lieutenant Edmund Cyril Staples, 11th Rajputs, was later awarded a Military Cross: He was in command of Brigade machine guns, and, although wounded himself and with only one wounded man to help him, he continued to work one of the guns at close range and under heavy fire for about an hour until the action closed. At the end he was working the gun alone as the man helping him was a second time wounded'.

Above: Medals, from left to right: 1939–1945 star with Battle of Britain clasp, Air Crew Europe Star, 1939–1945 War Medal.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archives KewBattle of Britain expanded database. RZM Publications 'Wing Leader'. Ian and Gareth at KeyAiro.

Camera gun of Me110 shootdown

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 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 07 February 2026, 16:44