LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Charles Joseph MERRYFULL MBE
Service No: 424778
Born: Adelong NSW, 27 November 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 October 1942
Unit: Bomber Support Development Unit (RAF), RAF Station Swanton Morley
Awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), 1 January 1946
Died: Aircraft Accident (Bomber Support Development Unit Mosquito aircraft PZ178), Norfolk, 8 July 1945, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward George and Annie Merryfull, of Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hurstville NSW
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Hurstville War Memorial, Hurstville NSW
Squadron Leader Merryfull was attached from No. 199 Squadron (RAF).
At 1004 hours on 8 July 1945 Mosquito PZ178 took off from Swanton Morley for a “Window” trial (radar jamming using aluminium foil). At 1018, debris from the Mosquito fell near the Norfolk village of Docking, some 14 miles north east of King’s Lynn. A detailed report of the tragedy was subsequently published, in which it is reported that the port “Window” tank had detached, due to failure of its attachment beam. As the tank fell away, it is believed it struck the tailplane and caused the Mosquito to dive out of control. Instinctively, it is thought, the pilot pulled back on the control column imposing severe “g” forces on the starboard wing, which then broke off.
The crew members of PZ178 were:
Leading Aircraftman Francis Grady (2209126) (RAFVR)
Squadron Leader Charles Joseph Merryfull MBE (424778) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Chorley W R, Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 8 Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units 1939-1947, Midland Counties Publications UK, 2003
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/27/1008
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line