PAYNE, ALBERT EDWARD Rank: Lieutenant (A) Date of Death: 27/06/1946 Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy H.M.S. Godwit. Grave Reference: Sec. Bb. Grave 32. Cemetery: SOUTHALL (HAVELOCK) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Albert Edward and Ellen Payne, of Southall. His brother George William also died on service. PAYNE, GEORGE WILLIAM Rank: Sergeant Service No: 1270198 Date of Death: 12/08/1943 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 40 Sqdn. Panel Reference: Column 271. Memorial: ALAMEIN MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Albert Edward Payne, and of Ellen Payne, of Southall, Middlesex. His brother, Albert Edward, also died on service.
Details of the above loss........ 11-12 August 1943 40 Squadron Wellington X HZ544 'Z' The aircraft was shot down in flames over the target ( St. Agata Beaches) Crew. W/O. H S. Shepherd RNZAF + F/S. L A. Cox + Sgt. G W. Payne + Sgt. H. Cameron + F/S. A R. Murray + Source - Sweeping The Skies - D. Gunby
Gooday Peter, This is my first post since joining yesterday. I am trying to find information regarding Aubrey Robert Murray, 778598 RAFVR, formally from Bulawayo Southern Rhodesia. Any help would be appreciated. Regards Mactavish
CWGC has the usual slim record: Flight Sergeant Aubrey Robert Murray | War Casualty Details | CWGC Google has the follwoing entries, which you may have already: Wellington HZ544 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] and 21 O.T.U. Wellington IC R1142 Fl/Sgt. Wilsher Wiki has a brief outline of their WW2 service: No. 40 Squadron RAF - Wikipedia and some more on: No. 40 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War We always advise in cases like this an application for his Service Record is made, though there is a long wait - not so sure in the RAF are as slow as the Army. PM to come shortly on research.
Thanks David, I have previously obtained the above information from the sources mentioned, but have not tried for his Service Record yet. Thanks for your assistance, Mactavish
Name: Aubrey Robert Murray Rank: Flight Sergeant Death Age: 21 Birth Year: abt 1922 Death Date: 12 Aug 1943 Military Base: Hani West, Tunisia Service Number: 778598 Unit: 40 Squadron Command: Mediterranean Ship: Wellington X Occupation: Air Gunner Casualty: Killed in action Residence Place: Southern Rhodesia Burial Place: Alamein Mem, Egypt Notes: Shot Down Over the Target Area and Crashed Into the Sea Off San Giovanni During A Raid on Beaches At St Agata, Sicily UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Also a record at 40 Squadron Wellington X HZ544 BL-Z W/O. Shepherd, Hani West, Between Messina and San Giovanni, Italy And, F/Sgt Aubrey Robert Murray was involved in another aircraft accident, where he was injured: 21-5-1942 No.21 OTU Wellington IC R1142 Training. Took off from RAF Edgehill for dual instruction in overshoot procedures. The aircraft landed heavily at 2350 and the throttles were advanced in order to go round again. It seemed likely however, that damage had occurred as the bomber stalled and crashed two miles east of the airfield. 741926 F/Sgt (Screened Pilot) George Herbert WILSHER RAFVR + 1083374 Sgt (Pilot) James ANDERSON RAFVR + 1138904 Sgt (Pilot) Herbert SWALES RAFVR + AUS407659 Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Thomas Alfred WORLEY RAAF + 778598 Sgt (Air Gnr.) Aubrey Robert MURRAY RAFVR (Southern Rhodesian) - Injured (Murray lost his life in the ME, on 11/12-8-1943, aboard No.40 Sqn, Wellington X HZ544). 431123 - Unaccounted Airmen - 23-11-1943 - Page 3
Thanks Temujin, Your post prompted me to review the closing of the Sicily campaign and this is what Wicki had to say: The successful conclusion of the Allies' Sicily campaign was close as the Axis forces began evacuating Sicily through the port of Messina and across the Messina Straits to Villa San Giovanni in Italy. The German plan was thorough, with clear lines of command imposing strict control over the movement of all personnel and equipment. Full scale evacuation began on the 11th August 1943, and continued until 17th August. The Allies were unable to prevent the orderly withdrawal and not effectively interfere with transportation across the Straits of Messina. The narrow straits were protected with both heavy and light anti-aircraft guns providing overlapping gunfire from both sides of the straits and described by Allied aircrew as worse than the Ruhr (Happy Valley) making daylight raids hazardous and unsuccessful and night raids only a little less so. This was the situation into which Wellington HZ544 BL-Z flew into on its operation on the night of 11/12th August 1943 resulting in the loss of the whole crew. Regards Mactavish
Mactavish, A quick thought. Would searching for those he died with and was injured with possibly find other information before 11/12th August 1943?
