FAA in home waters March 1943

[Alex Smart]

FAA in home waters
March 1943

5 - Defiant TT.1 - 771 Sqn - DR937.
6 - Albacore I - 821 Sqn - N4378.
7 - Swordfish II - 833 Sqn - DK701.
7 - Swordfish II - 836 Sqn - HS313.
16 - Swordfish II - 766 Sqn - DK691.
18 - Fulmar II - 803 Sqn - DR644.
23 - Swordfish I - 785 Sqn - W5840.
25 - Albacore I - 828 Sqn - T9240.
28 - Seafire IIc - 899 Sqn - MB244.
31 - Rapide - 782 Sqn - AX844.

[Jim Clayton]

Rapide/Dominie AX844 of 782NAS crashed in a field, shortly after take off from HMS Merlin (Donibristle) on 31st March 1943. Pilot, Petty Officer Freddie Parr RN together with Observer LA Peter Murphy RN and passengers F/O Brian Pudney RAAF, F/O Alfred de Garis RAAF, F/O Owen Shroff RNZAF, P/O William Henderson RAAF, PO Maurice Smith RNZAF. P/O D.W. Newman RNZAF was reported as surviving.

[Keith Bryers]

Hi Jim,

Just to say that AX844 was actually a DH.86B Express (c/n 2322). The a/c was in use by Jersey Airlines as G-ACZR when it was impressed in July 1940 and passed into 782 NAS's fleet. Initially, it carries its civil registration.

Keith