LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Ernest William GIMSON DFM & Bar
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 541685 (RAF)
Born: Date, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAF: Date unavailable
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) and the Bar to the DFM
Unit: No. 69 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 69 Squadron Maryland aircraft AR726), south east of Malta, 26 June 1941, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest Reynolds Gimson and Gladys Hilda Gimson, of Pendle Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 1, Column 2, Malta Memorial, Malta
On 25 June 1941, Maryland aircraft from No. 69 Squadron were tasked to attack an Italian convey taking reinforcements to North Africa. Maryland AR726 was lost in the attack and was last heard reporting over radio that it was attacking the convoy.
The crew members of AR726 were:
Flight Sergeant Montague Harry Slade Bolton (565469) (RAF)
Flight Sergeant Ernest William Gimson DFM & Bar (541685) (RAF)
Flight Sergeant Brian Paul Hanson (758061) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record AWM65, 2314
RAF Commands Website