LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer James Andrew McINTOSH
Service No: 742
Born: Adelaide SA, 25 March 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 February 1940
Unit: No. 3 Squadron
Died: Air Operations (No. 3 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AK736), Ain-En Naga, 23 January 1942, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James and Elizabeth Agnes McIntosh, of Goodwood, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Unley SA
Remembered: Column 264, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 98, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 1200 hours 3 Squadron carried out a sweep over the withdrawal of XIII Corps, where they encountered some thirty Ju87s escorted by a mixed force of twelve G-50s and MC 200s, with a further six Bf109s, attacking the 1st Armoured Division. In the sharp battle which followed, Flying Officer Hart (1) (AK 691 CV-L) and Sergeant Peter Giddy (2) (AK 604) each destroyed an MC 200, Hart also claiming a probable, while Flying Officer Bobby Gibbes (3) (AK 612) destroyed a Ju87 and claimed damage to two G-50s.
On this occasion the Italians admitted to the loss of three aircraft, an unusual occurrence, as quite often their claims and acknowledged losses seemed to be in inverse proportions to those submitted by the Commonwealth squadrons. Flying Officer Eric Bradbury (4) (AK 599) shot down a Ju87, and made another attack, but return fire from the Stukas gunners hit an oil pipe, and he force-landed near a British column. He was picked up by an armoured car.
On the return flight the squadron was surprised by two Bf109s, Lieutenant Stahlschmidt shooting down Flying Officer James McIntosh, who was killed. Sergeant Giddy claimed to have damaged one of the Messerschmitts.
(1) Flying Officer Richard Craigton Hart (later Flight Lieutenant) (260719) Killed in a flying accident: 9 May 1943
(2) Flying Officer Peter Radcliffe Giddy (715) Killed in a flying accident: 15 March 1942
(3) Flying Officer (later Wing Commander) Robert Henry Maxwell Gibbes DSO DFC (260714) Discharged from the RAAF: 11 January 1946
(4) Flying Officer (later Squadron Leader) Elvas Arthur Bradbury (250696) Discharged from the RAAF: 10 December 1945
Extract from 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 – Pages 82-3
On the 23 January 1942, Kittyhawk AK736 flown by Flying Officer McIntosh was in a formation of 12 aircraft detailed to carry out a sweep over the El Gatafin/El Hassiett area. Enemy aircraft were encountered and during the ensuing fight, AK736 was seen to go into a spin and crashed.
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, 163/47/105