LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Roy Arthur DREW DFM
Service No: 407415
Born: Peterborough SA, 5 August 1914
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 October 1940
Unit: No. 112 Squadron (RAF), Gambut No. 1 Airfield, Egypt
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Died: Air Operations (No. 112 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AK586), Libya, 17 June 1942, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Gertrude Cecilia Jane Drew, of Peterborough, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Peterborough SA
Remembered: Column 265, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
DFM Citation: In May 1942, Flight Sergeant Drew led a formation of fighter and bomber aircraft in an attack on a concentration of tanks and motor transport. On arrival over the target area he ordered all aircraft to orbit out of range of fire from the ground defences while he dived through the barrage to 1,000 feet to identify the target. Having done so, he released a bomb which fell in the centre of the enemy vehicles as an aiming point for the other bombers. In a subsequent attack he led the bombers through the barrage, releasing his bombs and using his machine guns most effectively. On other occasions Flight Sergeant Drew has participated in sorties over difficult targets, achieving success. He is a courageous and determined pilot and has set an inspiring example. He has destroyed two enemy aircraft.
Pilot Officer Drew flying Kittyhawk AK586 was in a formation of 7 aircraft which took off from Gambut Satellite airfield at 1120 hours on 17 June 1942 to bomb enemy motor transport and troop carriers at Map Reference 415403. Apparently AK586 had some difficulty at the take off, as the aircraft was not airborne until several minutes after the others, and consequently flew alone to the target where the aircraft was seen at approximately 1140 hours. This is the last reported sighting of the aircraft and the aircraft and pilot did not return to base.
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
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/103/207