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

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: