LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Phillip Greig CAMERON
Service No: 400112
Born: Boort VIC, 18 June 1913
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 May 1940
Unit: No. 682 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 682 Squadron Spitfire aircraft RM640), Gulf of Venice, 9 February 1945, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Albert Park Cameron and Christina Cameron, of Colac, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 19, Column 1, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 119, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 9 February 1945 Spitfire RM640 was detailed to carry out a high level photographic reconnaissance sortie of Augsberg, Germany. The aircraft was airborne at 1230 hours with Base weather conditions good, but forward aerodromes were covered by low cloud making refuelling difficult if required. Actual flying conditions to and from the target were good, and the aircraft was dead on track when the pilot was compelled to bale out over the sea in position 45.15N 013.03E in the Gulf of Venice. The pilot in conversation with the Controller of No. 287 Wing at 1510 hours was perfectly happy and flying back to base. At 1511 hours he reported his engine had gone haywire and he was baling out. His flying time to that point was 2 hrs 40 mts which ruled out petrol shortage. The Air Sea rescue was delayed due to inclement weather, but an oil patch was seen along with a new dinghy, but the sighting could not be traced specifically to RM640 as three other aircraft went down in the same vicinity that afternoon.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/7/840