George Oxley Piesse Watson AUS406745

[Amrit]

Hi All

Could I trouble someone to look up a DFC recommendation please?

George Oxley Piesse Watson AUS406745
230 Squadron

His DFC was LGed in 1945 but his card states it was for actions during the Sicialian Campaign (so mid 1943ish). His service file at the NAA hasn't been digitized.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1567012

He also received a couple of MiDs but without access to his service records I doubt I'll find any info on those.

Cheers

A

[John Williams]

Hi Armit,

His citation reads. F/L Watson has proven himself to be an outstanding captain of aircraft whose devotion to duty, dependability and determination in the face of many difficulties have always been of great value to his unit. His operational activities have included sorties in support of the Sicilian campaign and sea rescue missions off the Italian coast. On one of these flights he landed a Sunderland on the open sea near Naples, then in enemy hands, and effected the rescue of
the crew of an aircraft. LG 3/4/45 p1784.

This was from The Distinguished Flying Cross to Australians by Michael Mason.

Regards,

John.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

The author of The Distinguished Flying Cross to Australians is, Michael Maton, not Mason.

Watson mentioned twice:

1/ King's Birthday Honours List - LG: 08/06/1944.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2642

2/ New Year's Honours List - LG: 01/01/1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/.../supplement/99

Re: 1943 rescue:

17-18 July 1943 - No.230 Squadron.

Two hours after McNichol landed F/O Watson was airborne in (Sunderland) EJ141:R to effect the rescue.
There was much enemy air activity due to the fighting on Sicily and the Sunderland was escorted by P-38s. Watson located the dinghy and landed on alongside. The six crew of the downed Marauder*(USAAF), two of which had minor injuries and a third with a broken arm and leg, were picked up. After take off Watson set course for a position 40 miles south of Naples to try and locate another ditched crew. Due to limited fuel of the fighter escort he had to restrict the search area and was unable to locate the survivors. Signalling their success in picking up survivors from the first search, the squadron had an ambulance on standby when the Sunderland arrived back at Bizerta. Watson noted that the excellent work of the fighter escort had enabled him to concentrate fully on the rescue work without having to worry about enemy aircraft.

* The ditched aircraft was USAAF B-26 Marauder from the 320thBG - http://320thbg.org/macr_pdfs/macr_00247.pdf

See:
Hunt Like A Tiger 230 Squadron at War 1939-45 - Portrait of a Royal Air Force Flying Boat Squadron,
Docherty,Tom
Bognor Regis:Woodfield Publishing,2013 (2nd ed.).
p.92

Col.

[Amrit]

Thank you, John & Col. That's a great help. Now to track down the incident with the Naples rescue. I've been using the TNA preview system for the 230 Squadron ORBs but no luck so far.

Cheers for your help

A

EDIT: I replied before the edited post. That's perfect, Col. Thank you.

[Amrit]

The ditched aircraft was USAAF B-26 Marauder from the 320thBG!
.

That last part really helped tracking down the aircraft and crew (442nd BS).

http://320thbg.org/mission_pdfs/mission_051.pdf


"B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO" by Mark Styling states it was 41-17964.

A

[COL BRUGGY]

Amrit,

Just noticed your reply (Post # 5). Agree wholeheartedly, Marauder involved was 442BS, 41-17964, not 41-35200 (that ditched on 19/07/1943). Thanks for the correction.

Col.