LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Amachai HONIG DFM
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 120334 (RAF)
Born: Perth WA, 4 November 1919
Enlisted in the RAF: Date unavailable
Unit: No. 603 Squadron (RAF), Misrata West, Libya
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Died: Air Operations (No. 603 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft V523), Greece, 30 August 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: No further information
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 268, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Commemorative Roll, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
DFM Citation (while serving with No 14 Squadron (RAF) operating Blenheim aircraft from Landing Ground 75, Egypt): In December 1941, this airman was detailed to participate in an attack on concentrations of armed fighting vehicles and enemy transports. Despite adverse weather conditions, Sergeant Honig displayed the greatest determination to complete his task and finally carried out a most successful attack from a very low altitude. By his keenness and tenacity, this airman has been able to cause considerable damage and destruction to the enemy’s armed fighting forces. (Promulgated in the London Gazette of 26 December 1941)
On 30 August 1943, Beaufighter V523 of No. 603 Squadron flown by Flying Officer Honig was one of four aircraft carrying out an offensive sweep off the west coast of Greece. At 1026 hours a ship was sighted in position 38.53N 20.46E. Honig attacked at 1027 hours. His cannon strikes were apparent along the ships deck. As the second aircraft went into attack Honig’s aircraft was seen to strike the water and break up. The scene of the casualty was near Prevese which is at the entrance to the Gulf of Arta on the west coast of Greece.
The crew members of V523 were:
Sergeant Robert Gilchrist Finlay (1060985) (RAFVR) (Navigator Wireless)
Flying Officer Amichai Honig DFM (120334) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll On-Line Records
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/18/162
Bibliography