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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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72 crest
09th May 1942 72 Squadron Spitfire VB BM384 P/O. Waters

Operation: Circus 168

Date: 09th May 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 72 Squadron (motto: 'Swift') 11 Group

Type: Spitfire VB

Serial: BM384

Code: RN-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: English Channel

Pilot: P/O. David Owen Waters NZ/405350 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Previously flying Spitfire AB848 his aircraft was damaged by enemy fighters. He landed safely and the aircraft was repaired. The same aircraft flown by Sgt. Edgar Hansen of 332 Squadron on the 01st November 1942. He landed at RAF Manston after being hit by flak, again the aircraft was repaired and placed back into service.

On the 13th April 1942 Spitfire VB BM384 flown by Fl/Lt. Hugo Throsell Armstrong AUS/406022 crash landed at Gravesend after an engine failure. Aircraft repaired and placed back in service.

Taking off at 12:00 hrs with others, flying as Red 3 to the Hazebrouck marshalling yards.

No enemy opposition was encountered during the sortie, but on the return over the English Channel ‘Red’ Flight dropped down to sea level to investigate an object which turned out to be a raft. During this inspection Red 3 was seen to hit the water and disappear.

Burial details:

P/O. David Owen Waters. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 12th January 1920 at Auckland. A clerk for Standard Insurance Company prior to service. Enlisted as a pilot U/T at Levin on the 22nd December 1940. Son of Willie Lankesheer Waters and Lucretia Mary Waters (nee Pye) of Devonport, Auckland. 257 flying hours logged and on his 31st operational sortie.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Ian Banks, Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 14-02-2021

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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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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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