LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Edward Lancelot MUSGRAVE DFC
Service No: 403528
Born: Sydney NSW, 26 February 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1941
Unit: No. 137 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Manston
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 12 March 1943
Died: Air Operations: (No. 137 Squadron Whirlwind aircraft P7063), France, 18 May 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Pihen-Les Guines War Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William and Nellie Musgrave; husband of Jessie Eileen Musgrave, of Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bankstown NSW
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation (for service with No. 137 Squadron (RAF)): “This officer has taken part in a large number of operational missions. In attacks on the enemy’s communications in Northern France and Belgium he has damaged seven locomotives. One night in February 1943, he took off to search for a particular merchant escorted by 5 armed ships reported to be in the Channel. Although the night was very dark Flying Officer Musgrave sighted the vessel sailing close into the shore south of Boulogne. Skilfully approaching the merchant vessel he flew into attack but was frustrated by heavy fire from the coastal defences. Despite this he persisted and after diving through searchlights from the shore he attacked his objective, releasing bombs from a low level. Although his aircraft was damaged from the opposing fire from ships he flew in safely to his base. Flying Officer Musgrave displayed great courage, skill and determination in the execution of his task.”
At 0110 hours on 18 May 1943 Whirlwind P7063 flown by Flying Officer Musgrave took off from Manston to attack shipping off Graveslines, France. He was vectored under ‘Swingate Control’ until shipping was sighted. He then attacked with bombs. At 0132 hours he reported by radio that he was about to make a second attack. Nothing further was heard from Flying Officer Musgrave neither was there any further plot of the operation.
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/28/79