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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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453 crest
13th September 1943 453 Squadron Spitfire Vc EE727 Fl/Sgt. Nolan

Operation: Training

Date: 13th September 1943 (Monday)

Unit: No. 453 Squadron (motto: 'Ready to strike')

Type: Spitfire Vc

Serial: EE727

Code: FU-?

Base: RAF Perranporth

Location: Trevellas, Cornwall

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Mervyn Francis Nolan Aus/414505 RAAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on a cine-gun practice along with P/O. Parker.

At the conclusion of the exercise P/O. Parker landed first at the base followed shortly after by Fl/Sgt. Nolan.

Fl/Sgt. Nolan overshot whilst half way down the field but he left it too late to open up the throttles to go round again.

He barely gained flying speed when he then hit telephone wires which crossed the road to the south of the runway, the aircraft then stalled and he dropped onto a cottage 30 yards further on at 15:00 hrs.

The cause of the accident was described as an error of judgement from the pilot, the report emphasised that it was not carelessness as the pilot was held in high esteem by his commanding officer.

Tragically a child of 4. Barry Walker was also killed when the Spitfire landed on the house in Shute Row, Trevellas, his mother, Annie Walker was seriously injured. It is thought probable the father of Barry Sgt. Sydney Walker was on the base at the time. The cottage was destroyed when the Spitfire caught fire.

Above: RAF Perranporth memorial - Barry Parker also has a plaque on the stones.

Burial and other details:

Burial took place at 15:00 hrs on the 17th September 1943.

Fl/Sgt. Mervyn Francis Nolan. Illogan Churchyard (St Illogan). Row 2. Grave 20. Born on the 22nd September 1918 at Wondai, Australia. Enlisted on the 12th June 1941 after working as a butter packer. Embarked for Canada on the 22nd May 1942 and onto England on the 30th November 1942. Pilots badge awarded on the 23rd November 1942. Son of George Saunders Nolan (died 01st September 1961, aged 72) and Hannah Nolan (nee Mycock died 26th September 1992, aged 96) of 72 Barolin Street, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. Brother to Phyllis Rose Nolan (died 01st July 1987, aged 69. Grave inscription: 'God's Greatest Gift, Remembrance'.

Also:

Barry Walker. St Agnes Cemetery. Son of Sgt. Sydney Walker, RAF and Annie M. Walker, of Godolphin House, Portloe.

P/O. Harold Mason Parker. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 188. Born on the 30th March 1918 at Inverell, NSW, Australia. Enlisted on the 03rd March 1941 Son of Leslie Shelton Parker and Madge Greta Parker, of Inverell, New South Wales, Australia. Aus/403763 Age 25. Missing off the Scilly Isles on the 08th October 1943 flying Spitfire EP252 FU-J whilst with 453 squadron.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Information Cornwall, NAA of Australia, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 27-05-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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