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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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19 crest
19 Squadron Spitfire IIa P8668 P/O. Peter Donald Graham Stuart

Operation: Air Sea Rescue

Date: 29th August 1941 (Friday)

Unit: No. 19 Squadron (motto: Possunt quia posse videntur - 'They can because they think they can')

Type: Spitfire IIa

Serial: P8668

Code: QV-?

Base: RAF Matlask, Norfolk

Location: North Sea - 16 miles east of Great Yarmouth

Pilot: P/O. Peter Donald Graham Stuart J/3720 (R/61622) RCAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The squadron took off at 08:20 hrs to carry out a search for Sq/Ldr Lawson who was missing from the previous day's engagement. The English coast was crossed at 1200 ft. the squadron then proceeded on a reciprocal of 180 degrees from the base and ordered to arrive at the area where our missing pilot wast last seen about 10-15 miles off the Dutch coast from the Hague. Our aircraft swept the area but without success. and were just about to return home when they encountered about 10 Me110's at at 500 feet.

The enemy aircraft were in line astern they were apparently engaged on bombing practice as there was smoke float in the sea. The enemy aircraft first engaged Blue section led by P/O. Peter Stuart with P/O. Peter Edmonds and Sgt. Gordon Parkin and a dogfight ensued It seems that 'Yellow 1' Sgt. Brocker was the first of our pilots in action. As he saw the enemy aircraft coming towards Blue section, they were about 800 yards away and he turned to meet them head on. He picked on the first of the Me110's and opened fire at 200 yards closing to point blank range with a 4/5 second burst.

The port engine of the enemy aircraft started smoking and was a seen to crash into the sea. 'Yellow 1' then attacked another Me110 but his windshield was hit by a cannon shell and he returned to base uninjured.

'Red 1' Fl/Lt. Arthur Vokes when he saw enemy aircraft climbing into the sun to gain height and then dived down on one of the Me110's opening fire with a short burst. No results were observed. By this time all the aircraft were milling around in a circle and 'Red 1' got into the circle and opened fire with a burst of 5 seconds at the Me110. 'Red 1' were in front of him. Sparks and strikes are seen from one of the enemy aircraft which climbed away. 'Red 1' then got behind another Me110 in the circle and closing to 300 yards firing a long burst of 5 seconds with a result that the port engine of the enemy aircraft started to smoke and bits flew off its tail.

'Green 3' was next in action. He attacked an Me110 from below at 300 yards and then had to break away when he found himself behind two Me110/s one of which had its port engine on fire and the other escorting it. It is assumed that the damaged enemy aircraft was attacked by 'Red 1'. 'Green 2' attacked the damaged Me110 from astern at 500 feet giving it two bursts at 200-250 yards range. As 'Green 2' broke away, he saw the enemy aircraft gliding down in a right hand turn with its port engine stopped. This Me110 being claimed as destroyed and jointly by 'Red 1' and 'Green 2'.

'Green 2' then attacked the other enemy aircraft which had been the escort and gave it two short bursts from astern as a result of which glycol was seen to come from the port engine and a thick stream of white smoke. This enemy aircraft is being claimed as damaged.

Right: P/O. Peter Donald Graham Stuart

'Green 1' also claimed one Me110 as damaged. After damaging two other Me110's without visible results he closed behind another and from astern opened fire with 4 short bursts at 200 yards range. White and black smoke came from the starboard engine of the enemy aircraft and the engine caught fire. This aircraft was claimed as damaged.

'Red 3' and 'Yellow 1' were also in action. 'Red 2' climbed with 'Red 1' at the start of the engagement and following him down opened fire on a Me110 from astern at a range of 300 yards range. No results were seen but 'Red 2' then got on the tail of another Me110 and attacked it from astern and slightly from the quarter at 150 yard range firing a burst of 4 seconds or so. Parts of the Me110 which 'Red 2' could not identify flew off and he then had to break away.

'Yellow 2' also fired a long burst at 100 - 200 yard range at another Me110. The rear gunner of this enemy aircraft ceased firing but no other results could be observed.

Six aircraft landed at the base at 10:35 hrs and 'Red 2' landed at East Wretham (6 miles north east of Thetford in Norfolk) later returning to base.

There was nothing unusual in the tactics or camaflage of the enemy aircraft. The weather was fine with slight mist and 5.10th cloud at 1,500 ft. Our casualties - P/O Stuart, P/O. Edwards, Sgt. Davies and Sgt. Parkin all missing. . The following enemy casualties are claimed - 1 Me110 destroyed by Sgt, Brocker, 1 Me110 destroyed by Fl/Lt. Cokes and Sgt. Lysicky, 1 Me110 damaged by Fl/Sgt. Strihavka and 1 Me110 damaged by Sgt, Vojjech Lysicky.

Red Section
Fl/Lt. Vokes Spitfire P7887
Sgt. Watson Spitfire P808
Sgt. Charrock Spitfire P8432

Yellow Section
Sgt. Brocker Spitfire P8077
P/O. Marsh Spitfire P7991
Sgt. Davies Spitfire P8255

Blue Section
P/O. Stuart Spitfire P8668
P/O Edmunds Spitfire P8449
Sgt. Parkin Spitfire P8243

Green Section
Fl/Sgt. Strihavka Spitfire P7907
Sgt. Lysicky Spitfire P8442
Sgt. hibdley Spitfire P8580

Letter from casualties officer RCAF, to the father of the pilot. Dated 07th October 1941:

'Sir,
I am directed to refer to a letter from the Air Ministry dated 2nd September, 1941, and to inform you with regret that no news has been received of your son, Pilot Officer Peter Donald Graham Stuart, since he was reported missing on 29th August, 1941.

Your son's aircraft in company with other aircraft took off from base at 8.20 a.m. on 29th August to carry out a search for a pilot missing from the previous day's engagements. The aircraft swept the area where the pilot was last seen about 10 to 15 miles off the Dutch coast without success and were just about to return home, when they encountered a formation of enemy fighters, A general dog-fight immediately took place, several individual engagements ensuing, but in the general melee your son was not actually seen in action or to be hit by enemy aircraft fire. Your son's aircraft failed to return to the base and search over the sea has been in vain. Nothing further has been heard of your son or of the aircraft.

In the absence of definite news of your son it will be necessary after an absence of approximately 6 months from the date he was reported missing to presume his death, for official purposes. Seen such action is contemplated a further letter will be addressed to you,

I am to add an expression of sincere sympathy with you in your great anxiety and to assure you that any further news will be immediately passed to you'.

I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Signed E.F Clark

Burial details:

P/O. Peter Donald Graham Stuart. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 60. Born on the 29th January 1918 in Fort Qui'appele, Saskatchewan. A student accounting at the University of Saskatchewan when he enlisted. Enlisted on the 18th June 1940 in Regina. Son of Douglas Graham and Ruth Constance Stuart (née Dale), younger brother of Jean Marjorie and Ruth Mora Thomas, of Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan Canada.

Stuart Island in Daly Lake, Saskatchewan was named after him.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archives Kew, AIR-27-253-16/17. Paradie RCAF Archives. Government of Canada WW2 service records.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding 1941 losses

Pages detailing RCAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

KTY 28-08-2024

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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