LEST WE FORGET
Wing Commander Howard Clive MAYERS DSO DFC & Bar MID
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 77976 (RAF)
Born: Sydney NSW, 9 January 1910
Enlisted in the RAF: 1930
Unit: Officer Commanding, No. 239 Wing (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 1 October 1940
Awarded the Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 13 February 1941
Awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (MID), 1 January 1942
Awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), 28 July 1942
Died: Air Operations: (No. 250 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft ET826), Libya, 20 July 1942, Aged 32 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Russell Mayers and Penelope Mayers; husband of Betty Mary Mayers
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 247, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Commemorative Roll, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Wing Commander Mayers fought in the Battle of Britain.
DFC Citation: Flying Officer Mayers has participated in a number of interceptions and has destroyed seven enemy aircraft and possibly three others. During a recent engagement a cannon shell passed through the port wing of his aircraft, making a hole four feet in diameter, but Flying Officer Mayers succeeded in bringing his aircraft safely back to base. He has displayed great courage and a fighting spirit.
Bar to the DFC Citation: Wing Commander Mayers has led his Wing on a large number of sorties during the Libyan campaign. His mastery of tactics and skilful planning of operations have contributed largely to the many successes obtained. One day in December 1941, during a machine-gun attack against an enemy column, Wing Commander Mayers observed a member of his formation shot down by anti-aircraft fire. When the attack was concluded, he skilfully landed near the crashed aircraft and, although enemy vehicles were approaching, coolly waited for his comrade to reach him. Putting him in the seat, Wing Commander Mayers clambered in on top of him and took off as the enemy neared the aircraft. He finally flew safely back to base. This officer has always shown great courage and leadership. He has destroyed at least eleven aircraft.
DSO Citation: Wing Commander Mayers has commanded a Wing since April 1942. He is an expert in bombing and machine attacks, whilst his tactical knowledge has contributed much to the success of long range fighter operations. On two occasions in May 1942, this officer led a formation in attacks on enemy aircraft bringing supplies to the enemy and destroyed many of them. Wing Commander Mayers has displayed gallantry and great devotion to duty in the direction of recent intensive operations.
On 20th July Wing Commander Mayers was also shot down and killed by ground fire.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 254
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
Bibliography:
Brown, R. (Russell) Desert Warriors Australian P-40 Pilots at War in the Middle East and North Africa 1941-1943, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4652, 2000