458 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Crash : 28 February 1943

Source: AWM 64 1/279

Aircraft Type: Wellington Serial number: BB 481 Radio call sign: FU - Unit: 458 Sqn RAAF

Summary : The above 458 Sqn ORB records the following : “Wellington BB481 took off from Shallufa at 2300 hours on 27 February 1943 to carry out an anti sub patrol on a convoy off the coast, and whilst engaged on this operation was forced to land on the sea owing to engine failure. The aircraft ditched at approx 0300 hours and the crew abandoned the aircraft and escaped into the dinghy. After being afloat for about 3 hours the crew were picked up by a merchant vessel and taken to Alexandria. The crew returned to the unit on the same day.”

Crew: RAF Flt Sgt Scott, Captain (Pilot) RAF Sgt Whittaker, (2 nd Pilot) RAF Sgt Softley, (Observer) RAF Flt Sgt Baggs, (Wireless Air Gunner) RAF Sgt H Bertram, H (Wireless Air Gunner) RAF Sgt P Woolman, P (Wireless Air Gunner)

17 My grandfather was in the 458 Squadron between 06th Oct 1942 - 19th April 1943 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._458_Squadron_RAAF

In the Mediterranean

Finally, on 1 September 1942, 458 Squadron was re-united at El Shallufa and began a new life of maritime patrols, convoy escorts and mine laying operations. In this role, its aircraft operated from airfields in Egypt , Malta , Libya , Tunisia , Algeria , Sardinia , and Corsica Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from [1][7][8][9] From To Aircraft Version August 1941 January 1942 Vickers Wellington Mk.IV February 1942 April 1942 Vickers Wellington Mk.Ic November 1942 Vickers Wellington Mk.Ic October 1942 September 1943 Vickers Wellington Mk.VIII June 1943 May 1944 Vickers Wellington Mk.XIII February 1944 June 1945 Vickers Wellington Mk.XIV

FU (Sep 1941 – Mar 1942) [1][3] MD (Oct 1942 – Apr 1943) [4][5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Wellington

Bomber variants

Type 416 Wellington Mark IC

The first main production variant was the Mark IC which added waist guns to the Mark IA. A total of 2,685 were produced. The Mark IC had a crew of six; a pilot, radio operator, navigator/bomb aimer, observer/nose gunner, and waist gunner. 2,685 built at Weybridge, Chester and . Coastal Command variants

Type 429 Wellington GR Mark VIII

Mark IC conversion for Coastal Command service. Roles included reconnaissance, anti-submarine and anti-shipping attack. A Coastal Command Wimpy was the first aircraft to be fitted with the anti-submarine . 307 built built at Weybridge, 58 fitted with the Leigh Light . 27 th Feb 1943 (Page 78) Wellington B.B.481 14 th Mar 1943 (Page 82) Arrived from 458 Squadron in Egypt 02 nd Apr 1943 (Page 143) Aircraft Number H.X.381 03 rd April 1943 (Page 144) Aircraft Number H.X 576 (Possibly 376) 13 th Apr 1943 (Page 145) Aircraft Number L.A.997 17 th Apr 1943 (Page 146) Aircraft Number H.X 391 (Possibly 381)