LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 458 Squadron Wellington aircraft MP702), near Corsica, 15 July 1943
On the night of 14/15th July 1943, Wellington ‘X’ of No 221 Squadron (RAF) was engaged on a cross over patrol between Corsica and Sicily, and at 2310 hours sighted 1 motor vessel cargo liner type of 9000 tons and 3 destroyers. A message was sent to base and 5 Wellingtons of No. 458 Squadron were diverted from their patrols to attack the motor vessel.
Aircraft ‘L’ (PO Quinlan) of No. 458 Squadron dropped two torpedoes and as a result the vessel caught fire and sank with the destroyers picking up survivors. Aircraft ‘K’ (Flight Sergeant Bishop) arrived in time to see the vessel sink and one of the escorts on fire. Aircraft ‘F’ (Flying Officer Leslie Youle Hazeldine (401507) (Second Pilot)) and Aircraft ‘A’ (Flying Officer Markowski (RAF)) which were also diverted to the sighting failed to return.
Wellington ‘A’ (MP702) took off from RAF Protville, Tunisia, at 2051 hours on 14 July 1943 on a cross over patrol between the Straits of Bonnifacie and south of Elba. Apart from a signal that it had sighted the convoy, nothing further was heard from Aircraft ‘A’ and it failed to return from the mission.
The crew members of MP702 were:
Sergeant Ernest James William Blackler (1315620) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW
Flight Sergeant Edward Joseph Colclough (402314) (Second Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 26 October 1945
Pilot Officer Harry Whitby John Filmer (80384) (RAFVR) (Gunner S) PoW
Warrant Officer Class II Thomas Eric Griggs (R/98819) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Ronald Leonard (122961) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Flying Officer W J Markowsky (J/9250) (RCAF) (Pilot) PoW
Sergeant Eleazer Stanfield (1365035) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Bibliography:
Alexander, P. (Peter) We Find and Destroy: history of No. 458 Squadron, The 458 Squadron Council, 1959