Seeking information on Wellington in which Edward Charles FITZGERALD RAAF 436403, rear gunner, was KIA 10/10/1944 over the Adriatic. Flying out of Foggia Main with RAF Squadron 40. I have "found" him in the military cemetery at Malta.
Basic info - more to follow FITZGERALD, Edward Charles - (Flight Sergeant) 436403 RAAF Wellington LP464 Verona, Italy 11-Oct-44
Not wishing to jump in on Dave's post, I'm sure you will add more info Dave. The crew of Wellington X LP464 'D' were as follows W/O. R W F. Bodley + F/S. L R. Johnson RAAF + Sgt. G. Coyle + Sgt. A G. Butcher + F/S. E C. Fitzgerald RAAF + The target was the Porto Nuovo Marshalling Yards, Verona. LP464 was one of two 40 Squadron aircraft lost on this raid, the other being Wellington X MF630 'S' P/O. F. Wood and crew. Both were coned and shot down over the target.
Another report on the loss written by Alan Storr. RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE. 426605 Flight Sergeant JOHNSTON, Leslie Robert 436403 Flight Sergeant FITZGERALD, Edward Charles Source: NAA : A705, 166/21/207 Aircraft Type: Wellington Serial number: LP 464 Radio call sign: Unit: 40 Sqn RAF Summary: Wellington LP 464 of 40 Sqn RAF Central Mediterranean Force, was detailed on 11th October 1944 to attack an enemy target at Verona, Italy. LP 464 was one of three aircraft that failed to return from the mission. One aircraft was seen to go down on fire and successfully ditch, as a green light was seen floating intermittently. Two other aircraft were seen shot down over the target and a Rear gunner saw five parachutes bale out from one of these aircraft. Crew: RAF WO Bodley, R W F (Pilot) RAAF 426605 Flt Sgt Johnston, L R (Navigator) RAF Sgt Butcher, A G (Wireless Operator Air) RAF Sgt Coyle, G (Air Bomber) RAAF 436403 Flt Sgt Fitzgerald, E C (Air Gunner) Following post war enquiries and investigations, 6 graves were exhumed in the Verona cemetery but it was not possible to identify the remains. The missing crew were recorded as having no known grave. .JPG] In Memory of Warrant Officer Ronald William Frederick Bodley 1392669, 40 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 12 October 1944 Age 32 Son of William Herbert and Gladys Elizabeth Bodley, of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex. Remembered with Honour Malta Memorial In Memory of Flight Sergeant Leslie Robert Johnston 426605, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 11 October 1944 Age 22 Son of David George and Jessie Joan Johnston; husband of Florence Pearl Johnston, of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. Remembered with Honour Malta Memorial In Memory of Sergeant Arthur Gordon Butcher 1331519, 40 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 12 October 1944 Age 22 Son of Arthur John and Ethel Mary Charlton Butcher, of Box Hill, Tadworth, Surrey. Remembered with Honour Malta Memorial In Memory of Sergeant Gerald Coyle 551595, 40 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on 12 October 1944 Age 24 Son of Percy and Alice Coyle, of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. Remembered with Honour Malta Memorial In Memory of Flight Sergeant Edward Charles Fitzgerald 436403, Royal Australian Air Force who died on 11 October 1944 Age 20 Son of Thomas and Rose Louisa Fitzgerald, of Yallourn, Victoria, Australia. Remembered with Honour Malta Memorial
Not wishing to jump in on Dave's post, I'm sure you will add more info Dave. Thanks for that Peter - my "more info to follow" comment referred to the expectation that Spidge would weigh in with the Alan Storr synopsis of events and other specialised knowledge. The method of presentation he uses is infinitely better than what I keep ending up with. (I must get around to buying a better version of Adobe Acrobat so I can copy .pdf files into a readable format on my computer....)
Good morning to all My name is Stefano Gregorotti, I live in Buttapietra, small town near Verona (italy). They are the coordinatorof "History Hunters Verona", a group of aviation enthusiasts that deals with the events of air war that happened in Verona and its province. I visited this forum and saw that you are looking for info about the Wellington aircraft shot down on Verona 10/11 October '44. From the documentation From the documentation of the National Archives of Australia it shows that the unrecognized remains of the 6 Wellington crew members, including Flight Sergeant Edward Charles Fitzgerald are buried in the War Cemetery of Padua near Venice.
