Operation: Sweep

Date: 27th September 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 1 Squadron (motto: n omnibus princeps - 'First in all things'). 3 Group. Air defence of Great Britain

Type: Spitfire LF.IX

Serial: MK867

Code: JX-?

Base: RAF Detling, Kent

Location: Schelde Estuary, Netherlands

Pilot: F/O. Thomas Wyllie NZ/414718 RNZAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 16:20 hrs. with 11 others on a sweep over the Netherlands.

Whilst flying in very poor conditions he called for a course to Manston at 17:21 hrs.

The course was given to him, sadly nothing further was heard from either of the pilots. W/O. Edward Rueben Andrews 1387157 RAFVR flying Spitfire MJ481 as Blue 4 was also lost.

During the day the RAF lost 16 other aircraft with 7 pilots killed, 2 PoW, 1 evading capture, the remainder safe after various crash landings, through combat damage or fuel shortages.

(We have not been able to identify all) L-R: Rear; JP Franklin, ER v, Lindsay David Hutton NZ/41173 killed 16th November 1943, Robert Henry Blyth NZ/414581 Died 14th November 1981, Fraser Dudley Clark NZ414590 killed 22 August 1943, Eric Bayly Withell NZ414713 killed 18th January 1943, Raymond Herbert John Broady NZ39691 killed 28 November 1942.
Third row; Bernard Alexander Gumbley NZ/414614 killed 21st March 1945, HR Harrop, Sydney Alcock NZ39979 killed 25th June 1942, DB Chamberlain, James Gilbert Duffill NZ414604 killed 17th January 1943, Jack Trevor Villers NZ/412412 killed 21st January 1942, Thomas Wyllie NZ414718 killed 27th September 1944, George Ivan Ellis NZ414269 killed 20 April 1943.
Second row; William Alexander Irwin NZ/414632 killed 24th June 1944, John William Thomas Nelson NZ/414663 killed 23rd January 1942, TWO Fox, Donald Hugh McKenzie NZ414650 killed 21 January 1942, RF Hancock, Michael Acton Sullivan NZ414697 killed 20 December 1943, F Simpson, Wilfred Edward Bolton Turner NZ/414360 killed 15 December 1943.
Front; Edward Desmond Sale NZ414682 killed 06th September 1942, William J. J. Warwick NZ/414706 , JM Paynter, Arthur Frederick Tucker NZ414703 died 17 April 2015, David Oliphant Stewart NZ/413901 killed 20 August 1944, RT Johnston, LHF Brown, J Bains, Ian John Land NZ414306 killed 07th December 1942.

Burial details:

F/O. Thomas Wyllie. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 263. Born on the 08th April 1920 at Otahuhu. Worked as a farmer on his father's dairy farm Waitakaruru. Enlisted in the RNZAF on the 17th August 1941 at Levin. Initial training at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School on the 29th September 1941 before joining No. 2 Flying Training School on the 08th November 1941. The pilot's badge was awarded on the 17th August 1941 and promoted to sergeant. Embarked for England on the 22nd February 1942Further training with No. 5 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit on the 19th May 1942 then joined 53 Operational Training Unit on the 09th June 1942. Joined 222 squadron on the 07th October 1942 where he completed 137 operational sorties. Commissioned on the 24th June 1943. Attached to 1689 flight in late January 1944 flying the Hurricane. Joined 1 Squadron in May 1944 where he completed a further 89 operational sorties. Son of Alexander Ralston (who died in October 1960, at age 84) and Edith Beatrice Wyllie (née Wallice - died 11th March 1956, age 66), of Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand.

W/O. Edward Rueben Andrews. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 213. No further details - are you able to assist?

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

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 - 2025 Last Modified: 23 December 2021, 16:07