420708 - Unaccounted airman - 8-7-1942

[Henk Welting]

What was the place of death registration for:
Sgt Walter C.A. JERMAN - 1179934 (initials in Flight: A.C.W.), who died on active service.

Regards,
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
He is in the register as Allen W C Jerman,25, registered at Banbury, Oxfordshire
Regards
Dick

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Dick.
CWGC: W.C.A. * Flight: A.C.W. * Death register: A.W.C. !
Regards,
Henk.

[dennis_burke]

Likely birth register is Allen W C Jerman, 1917

[Henk Welting]

Buried with date of death 8-7-1942 in the Syracuse War Cemetery on Sicily:
G/Cpt Walter Myers CHURCHILL - DSO - DFC - 90241, with unit 605 Squadron.
605 Squadron at that time was based at Ford in Sussex flying Bostons and Havocs. The squadron was up to February 1942 based at Ta'Qali on Malta flying Hurricanes.
Looking for info what caused the death of G/Cpt Churchill.
Regards and thanks in advance,
Henk.

[NiallC]

Hi Henk

According to Malta: The Spitfire Years, Churchill (OC Takali) was flying with 229 Sqn on a raid on Biscari airfield on 27 August 42 when he was shot down by flak.

NiallC

[COL BRUGGY]

Henk,

Grp Capt Churchill was lost as descibed by NiallC.

Further details are:

A.

27 August (1942)

Greater things were afoot, however, for a major strike on the Sicilian airfields had been planned, following the lack of reaction during recent fighter incursions. Just before 1300, ten Spitfires from 185 Squadron headed for Comiso, led by Wg Cdr Thompson and Major Swales, followed five minutes later by eight from 229 Squadron, led by Grp Capt Churchill and Wg Cdr Donaldson, bound for Biscari. Finally, Sqn Ldr Woods led off a further eight of 249 Squadron five minutes after the departure of 229 Squadron. Their target was Gela.

B.
Plt Off (C H) Parkinson, recounts:

"As we passed a large town, Vittoria, my leader fired at a tall building. The rest of the section fired also. In the distance I could see a thick, black column of smoke coming from one of the dromes already attacked. I could hear the boys natter as they went in. At last out objective came into view. Biscari aerodrome. I could see a line of about six bombers on the deck, quite close together. Quarter of a mile from the drome my leader, Group Captain Churchill, was hit by flak, started to smoke, and then burst into flames, rolled on his back and crashed into the ground. Rather shook me!"

C.
APPENDIX I - ROLL OF HONOUR.
Spitfire Pilots killed MALTA 1942.

27/8/42
Grp Capt Walter Myers CHURCHILL DSO DFC
Takali Wing
Spitfire EP339

D.
APPENDIX VIII - SPITFIRES BELIEVED TO HAVE OPERATED AT MALTA 1942.

Serial No: EP339
Mode/date of arrival: 'Furious' 11/8/42
Aircraft fate/Pilot fate: Grp Capt W M Churchill's personal aircraft; shot down by AA 27/8/42. Grp Capt Churchill - KIA.

See:
Spitfires Over Malta:The Epic Air Battles of 1942.
Cull,Brian (with Frederick Galea)
London:Grub Street,2005
A. p.263
B. p.265
C. p.351
D. p.381

Col.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Niall & Col; sorry that I came up with an incorrect date of death.
Regards,
Henk.

[wwrsimon]

Hello

Sgt Walter C.A. JERMAN - 1179934- the Rochdale Observer of July 11th 1942 reported the following, which hopefully clears up the confusion over the forenames:

KILLED ON THE ROAD
News was received in Rochdale on Thursday of the tragic death of Sergeant Allen Walter Crawford Jerman of the Royal Air Force, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Jerman of 78 Clement Royds Street. He was killed in a road accident near Banbury, Oxfordshire, the previous night.

Regards

Simon

[Wesley London]

Have just found this thread asking about details for Sergeant Allan Walter Crawford Jerman - 1179934. I was just curious as i an doing some research for my partner and Sergeant Allan Walter Crawford Jerman was her uncle. If you anyone has any information on him it would be much appreciated.