Aircraft losses in SEAC : Latest UPDATE : Beaufighters

[Jagan]

I have updated the Bristol Blenheim losses in SEAC.

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...&qacid=6&qt=TY

These cover Blenheim losses of aircraft whose flights originated in India, Ceylon and Burma. The total entries are around 240.. and assuming some are damaged, recovered later and not full write offs - thats still probably around 200 airframe losses .

The losses does not include the early operations in Malaya, Singapore or Sumatra.


A considerable effort took place to get the actual data from ORBs and other sources. A major source is the the Blenhiem bible The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History by Graham Warner .

In the end - Warner's book still accounts for about 70 odd out of the 240 that i have listed here. And to fill in the crew members names and numbers as per the CWGC Site.

There is still some work left in checking Air Britain listings of the aircraft losses in the far east. Feel free to suggest corrections, changes additions.

The total entries in the DB Are just shy of 2900 now.

[Jagan]

Lysander losses in SEAC

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...&qacid=7&qt=TY

In 1941, exactly 100 Lysanders were shipped to India . The link above shows 62 incidents which may account to some 50 odd losses.

This does not include the 1945 induction of Lysander IIIs for Special Duties Ops with 357 Squadron's C Flight - this bit is still under construction.

[Jagan]

Brewster Buffalo losses in Burma and India approx. 27

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...acid=448&qt=TY

Tip of the hat to
Chris Shore, Brian Cull, Y Izawa and their Bloody Shambles Book series
Dan Ford's Warbird Forum Website at https://warbirdforum.com/ and the discussion board it hosts - which can be found at https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/warbirdsforum/
The contributors at that board - Dan Ford, Neil Frances (Author of "Ketchil"), Mark Hasselien and Jim Maas who have enriched my knowledge on the Buffalo for many years.

PS: Thread title updated to keep track of all other "Minor" Updates about SEAC

[Jagan]

After nearly two years - the next tranche of Updates:

Bristol Beaufighter Losses : About 350+ of them.... as always it remains WIP...

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...t=TY&crdb=SEAC

1942 : 1

1943 : 59

1944 : 161

1945 : 133

1946 : 3

1947 : 6

[COL BRUGGY]

Jagan,

Re: 01 Nov 44 - Beaufighter - TF.X -NE748 - 22 Sqn - Vavuniya.
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=NE748

See: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1252699 - Download, go to p.305 of 347 PDF.*

Or if you prefer: https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/afcr...attison-411924

See also: 9 Aug 45 - Beaufighter X - NE662.
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=NE662

* Corrections/Additions to above:
1/. Spitfire involved in accident - Spitfire LF.VIII JF815.
2/. McCOUAT RAAF - correct service number 411924, not 411921.
3/. BOYD-GERNEY RAAF - correct surname BOYD-GERNY RAAF
4/. STREVER was 108521 Major, DFC, SAAF.

Col.

[Ross_McNeill]

15 Sept 1943 Waddell JL712
20 May 1943 Wambeek X8022
7 May 1943 EL497 F1180 has lots of ? beside entries including pilot F/O A R Dunlop RCAF J/9394
23 April 1943 EL268 Sgt J M Copeland RCAF R/102793
9 Mar 1943 EL442 Sgt R T Gibbs 1335261 killed as well as 1 other

Ross

[Jagan]

Thanks for the updates.

Ross,

That entry about GIBBS helped identify two more airmen that were previously "Unaccounted " for - thats two down! Only one other unaccounted in India and his trade was Observer STUCKEY
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=EL442

[Ross_McNeill]

While I had the reel loaded.

8 Nov43 EL533 F/Sgt E T Woolsey RCAF 10128A(sic)

Ross

[COL BRUGGY]

Jagan,

Re: Ernest Walter Mervyn TRIGWELL. He is, in fact: AUS415198 F/O (Pilot) Ernest Walter Mervyn 'Triggy' TRIGWELL RAAF, POW 16/11/1944 (+ 09/02/1996 [aged 80], Donnybrook, W.A.).

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/....php?qnum=7936

Trigwell was wounded on 25 October, 1943, when his Beaufighter VIC (EL514 'V'), was struck by an explosive shell over Akyab, which passed through the nose of his aircraft, damaging his instrument panel. pieces of which entered his chest, and a screw lodged above his right eye, causing temporary blindness. 'Triggy', along with his navigator, 1277995 P/O George Albert 'Dobbie' DOBSON RAFVR qv., managed to get back to Cox's Bazaar and made a creditable landing (F/O DOBSON was shot down and killed, along with his pilot, J/20114 F/O Gordon Foster TRUDGEON RCAF qv., on 15 March, 1944).

See:
Beaufighters Over Burma No.27 Squadron, RAF 1942-45.
Innes,David J.
Poole:Blandford Press,1985.
pp.71-2.

Col.