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Allied Air Forces Losses and Incidents Database.

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Data derived from many sources. Incorporates 125,000 entries from Aircrew Deaths 39-47 Database. Corrections/Additions welcomed via Helpdesk

NOTE ON DATES: IMPORTANT: For consistency, the Date is given as the date the mission TOOK OFF since the precise time of a loss is not always certain. Take Off date is unambigous and fixed in the official records, but obviously in those cases where the incident occurred before midnight UK time, then the Take Off Date will be the same as the Incident Date. Of course, most Bomber Command missions flew through midnight, therefore a Luftwaffe claim against a plane - or a locally generated crash report - may record the incident as occurring on the day following our Take Off Date. Bear this in mind when cross-referencing to our Luftwaffe Victories by Name/Date Database and other Luftwaffe sources. In some cases other sources may quote the date following our date, using locally generated reports as their source. To add to the potential for confusion, remember to take into account a Luftwaffe recorded date will be in local time, 1 hour ahead of UK time. When we discover a validated Incident Date we change our record if necessary.



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Thanks to Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain for supplementary data and images (marked with a chequerboard device) related to the Polish Air Force, and many images courtesy of our respected colleagues Wojtek Matusiak and Robert Gretzyngier. Other images from our own archives.
Responding to requests that respects may be paid in this database to a loved one or friend, or someone you want to recognize, an In Memoriam plaque may now be placed next to any entry. See our Donate Page for details. Search for In Memoriam in this database to see examples of plaques which have been placed.

Polish Air Force personnel have a supplementary database containing more information and many more entries. Check the following:
Personel Polskich Sił Powietrznych posiada dodatkową bazę danych zawierającą więcej informacji i wiele innych wpisów. Sprawdź następujące elementy:
Archiwum: PSP 1939 -1947 Database 17,000+ Polish Air Force Entries
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You searched for: “pearce AND 461”

#Name* SORT (↑)First NamesTitleRankRAF Equivalent RankService No.BornNationalityRoleAwardsAir ForceCommandUnitDateofIncident *See Note SORT (↑)AircraftTypeSerialCodeVictories (Fighters)BaseTimeMission                        Incident                        FateCommemoratedPhoto (Click to Expand)Referring Database                        Notes                        Links/Archive Reports
1 PearceRonald WilliamCorporal575901Age 22RAF461Sqn RAAF

1945-05-16KilledUnited Kingdom, Redgrave (St. Mary) Churchyard,
Son Of Arthur And Florence Ellen Pearce, Of Botesdale; Husband Of Cavell Lorraine Pearce, Of Black'S Harbour, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick, Canada. His Brother Maurice George Arthur Also Died On Service.Paul McGuiness RAAF Archive
2 SingletonGordon O.P/O400841St. Kilda Victoria AustraliaAustraliaPilot/ CaptainRAAFCoastal Command461Sqn RAAF
1943-05-29SunderlandllT9114EPembroke DockAir Sea RescueDamaged on take offSurvived
Autobiography
CREW: Co-Pilot 415195 Flight Sergeant Pearce E. Taplin of Midland Junction,WA;
Navigator 401356 PO Harry Winstanley DFC of Geelong, Vic;
Engineer 9429 Sergeant (Sgt) H. Hall of Moonee Ponds, Vic;
Wireless operator-mechanic Flt/Sgt Ronald (Hughie) Church, RAF;
Wireless operator-gunner 405228 Sgt Johnny Lewis of Brisbane, Qld;
Airgunner 407210 Flight Officer George Viner of Adelaide, SA.

Short Sunderland T-9114, Aircraft 'E' for Emu of 461 Squadron, Coastal Command sustained a large hole in the hull plates in the region of the toilet when taking off in a lumpy sea 150 nautical miles beyond Bishop Rock, after rescuing crews of two other Coastal Command aircraft. One of these was a Whitley and the other was Sunderland 'O' of 461 Squadron RAAF which had crashed while attempting to land to rescue the Whitley crew. Sunderland 'E' landed in the open sea at 7.00 hours (Double British Summer Time) at a spot 175 nautical miles southwest of Bishop Rock and picked up the two crews from dinghies. As the sea was too rough for a take off the Sunderland began taxiing towards England and at about 10.00 hours was met by the Free French destroyer La Combattante. The destroyer took 21 persons including five of the Sunderland 'E' crew on board and sent an armourer to disarm the aircraft's depth charges which were then jettisoned. At 13.00 hours the destroyer took the Sunderland in tow but many difficulties were met. Finally at 15.00 hours the towline broke and at 18.00 hours preparations were completed for take off. This had to be commenced across wind because of the state of the sea and took three or four times as long as usual. It was finally achieved after turning head-on to the wind and striking large waves, the last one of which hurled the Sunderland into the air but also ripped a large hole in the hull. This ruled out any possibility of a sea landing. At 20.00 hours Sunderland 'E' was near the entrance to Milford Haven and its skeleton crew spent the next half hour throwing overboard flares and loose heavy items in preparation for a crash landing. These preparations proved unnecessary when a gentle landing was made at 20.40 hours on the grassy Angle airfield. Half of 461 Squadron was at Angle airfield to see the landing and the unorthodox disembarkation of the crew. The motley uniforms worn by the crew were what were left after wet survivors of the two rescued crews had been given an open go at the clothing originally worn and carried by the crew of 'E'. The destroyers delivered all of its passengers safely including a pilot of Sunderland 'O' of 461 Squadron RAAF who had been very badly injured. Apart from him all the others were able to continue with their duties as soon as aircraft could be found for them. Sunderland 'E' for Emu never flew or floated again." (Commentary written by Harry Winstanley, DFC)

UNDER TOW BY THE FRENCH DESTROYER 'LA COMBATTANTE'.

Paul McGuiness RAAF Archive

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