Operation: Patrol - interception

Date: 15th August 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 1 Squadron

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3043

Code: JX-G

Base: RAF Northolt / RAF North Weald

Location: Missing off Harwich - England

Pilot: Sgt. Martin Michael Shanahan 741623 RAFVR Age 25. Missing - believed killed

Update 20-01-2022: Would Valerie please contact us as her email does not seem to be working? Another relative has some memorabilia he would like to share with her.

11th November 2020 - Page sponsored by Valerie Golden of Australia. Valerie generously sponsors this page every year, without fail.

Page placed on the anniversary of the loss of these pilots - sponsored by Valerie Golden of Australia

November 10th 2016: "Martin, a life lost so young, born 11 November 1904, Killed In Action WWII. Born on a day known now as “Remembrance Day”, never forgotten by the family including here in Australia. Thank you." Valerie (Golden)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Based at RAF Northolt - relocated to RAF North Weald for this sortie. Took off at 12:14 hrs to intercept Me110’s but the section was bounced by fighters from 3/ERP.GR210 with all 3 aircraft shot down at approximately 15:00 hrs.

Also shot down from 1 Squadron this day:

Hurricane I P3047 JX-E Flown by 29 year old, Fl/Lt. Mark Henry Brown DFC - bar. 37904 RAF of Glendora, Manitoba, Canada, who although injured managed to bale out and rescued by a trawler. (He was later to lose his life on the 12th November 1941 whilst with 249 Squadron in Italy) (1)

Hurricane I P4075 JX-? Flown by 22 year old, P/O. Dennis Owen Mathew Browne 41234 RAF from Portslade-by-Sea, Sussex. Missing in the same area.

(1) W/Cdr. Brown DFC and Bar. Croix de Guerre. MM. Czechoslovak Military Cross: Joined prior to outbreak of the war in 1936 and together with F/O. Allan B. Angus became one of the first Canadian Aces of the war. The Browne Rapids in the Bigstone River, Manitoba, Canada, was named after him in 1989.

22-year-old, F/O. Allan Benjamin Angus DFC. 40281 85 Squadron RAF also lost his life on the 16th May 1940 - Angus Island in Bain Lake, Manitoba, Canada, was named after him in 1989. Read RCAF Notes.

Burial details:

(Listed as being lost on the 16th August 1940 as that was the date on which records of his loss were submitted - we have listed the correct loss date)

Sgt. Martin Michael Shanahan. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 19. Son of William and Catherine Shanahan, of Seven Kings, Essex, England.

Others:

W/Cdr. Mark Henry Brown DFC - bar. Catania Cemetery, Sicily. Grave III.G.24. Son of Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Brown, of Glenboro, Manitoba, Canada.

P/O. Dennis Owen Mathew Browne. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 17. Son of Thomas Matthew and Elsie Louise Browne, of Portslade-by-Sea, Sussex, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, Valerie Golden in Australia. With thanks to some of the sources as quoted below: