My Great Uncle Bert - Spitfire Pilot
Discussion
I'm hoping some of you guys can help me trace the service history of my Great Uncle who flew Spitfires with No 91 'Nigeria' Squadron. I did some work on Google last week which actually found quite a few mentions of his name and even a photo in a book called No 91 'Nigeria' Squadron by Peter Hall. In the book he is listed a few times with two pictures and some interesting reports ,which are:
Joinging the Squadron on July 1st 1942
Surviving a 'blue on blue' when his wingman was shot down when attacked by 609 Squadron Hawker Typhoons on the 18th of December 1942.
Being described as the Squadrons 'ace' photographer when the Spitfires were equiped with an F24 oblique camera.
Shooting down a Bf 109 while providing escort cover during Ramrod 250 mission to Beauvais on the 26th of September 1942 which was confirmed by his Yellow section leader.
Being deemed to have served long enough for a posting to HQ No9 Group for instructor duties on December 5th 1943.
The Squadron photo for VE day 1945 dated May 10th at Ludham Norfolk. See link.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wmKJHZbwI5wC&am...
Google also finds a page with the history of Spitfire in which it says he shot down a Fw190 just two days before his Bf109 in another ramod mission to bauvais. Peter Halls book lists a mission for that date to Beauvais and says the squadron claimed 3 FW 190's ,but lists different pilots with the kills.
Serial MB836
Markings RH; EB-V
Engine Griffon III
Movements 6 MU 18/5/43; 405 ARF Heston 11/8/43; 91 Squadron 22/8/43; Repaired on Site 19/11/43; 91 Squadron 30/12/43; 33 MU 20/3/44; 3501 Service Unit 8/6/44; 41 Squadron 26/6/44; FLS Milfield 28/9/44; 39 MU 26/10/44; claimed by 39 MU as non-effective aircraft; Home Census March 1946; Struck off Charge 16/5/46
Remarks W/C Ray Harries claimed a FW190 in the Evereaux area on 22/9/43 in this aircraft; F/O A. G. O'Shaughnessy claimed a FW190 in the Beauvais area on 24/9/43; W/C Ray Harries claimed two Me109G in the Rouen-Evereaux area on 20/10/43 in this aircraft; believed to be W/C Harries personal aircraft during his time as Tangmere Wing leader. Carried codes RH
Another Google link to another book says the following :
"Next is six pages on No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron (DL), the second of only two Squadrons to fly the Mk.XII in numbers. It begins with a side profile of DL-E, EN617, the regular aircraft of Pilot Officer Albert G. O'Shaughnessy, again by Malcolm Laird. "
So does anyone know the best place to be able to fill in the missing caps in the history of FL/O Albert G. O'Shaughnessy or 'shag' O'Shaughnessy as he was rather amusingly know in the Squadron ?
Joinging the Squadron on July 1st 1942
Surviving a 'blue on blue' when his wingman was shot down when attacked by 609 Squadron Hawker Typhoons on the 18th of December 1942.
Being described as the Squadrons 'ace' photographer when the Spitfires were equiped with an F24 oblique camera.
Shooting down a Bf 109 while providing escort cover during Ramrod 250 mission to Beauvais on the 26th of September 1942 which was confirmed by his Yellow section leader.
Being deemed to have served long enough for a posting to HQ No9 Group for instructor duties on December 5th 1943.
The Squadron photo for VE day 1945 dated May 10th at Ludham Norfolk. See link.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wmKJHZbwI5wC&am...
Google also finds a page with the history of Spitfire in which it says he shot down a Fw190 just two days before his Bf109 in another ramod mission to bauvais. Peter Halls book lists a mission for that date to Beauvais and says the squadron claimed 3 FW 190's ,but lists different pilots with the kills.
Serial MB836
Markings RH; EB-V
Engine Griffon III
Movements 6 MU 18/5/43; 405 ARF Heston 11/8/43; 91 Squadron 22/8/43; Repaired on Site 19/11/43; 91 Squadron 30/12/43; 33 MU 20/3/44; 3501 Service Unit 8/6/44; 41 Squadron 26/6/44; FLS Milfield 28/9/44; 39 MU 26/10/44; claimed by 39 MU as non-effective aircraft; Home Census March 1946; Struck off Charge 16/5/46
Remarks W/C Ray Harries claimed a FW190 in the Evereaux area on 22/9/43 in this aircraft; F/O A. G. O'Shaughnessy claimed a FW190 in the Beauvais area on 24/9/43; W/C Ray Harries claimed two Me109G in the Rouen-Evereaux area on 20/10/43 in this aircraft; believed to be W/C Harries personal aircraft during his time as Tangmere Wing leader. Carried codes RH
Another Google link to another book says the following :
"Next is six pages on No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron (DL), the second of only two Squadrons to fly the Mk.XII in numbers. It begins with a side profile of DL-E, EN617, the regular aircraft of Pilot Officer Albert G. O'Shaughnessy, again by Malcolm Laird. "
So does anyone know the best place to be able to fill in the missing caps in the history of FL/O Albert G. O'Shaughnessy or 'shag' O'Shaughnessy as he was rather amusingly know in the Squadron ?
I suggest you contact The Spitfire Society: www.spitfiresociety.demon.co.uk
They may well publish your appeal for information in their quarterly magazine and maybe another reader/member will know. Good luck!
They may well publish your appeal for information in their quarterly magazine and maybe another reader/member will know. Good luck!
RAF Innsworth is your fist place to go but they may actually have moved
"If an individual had any service beyond the mid 1920s, or if he had a service number higher than 329,000, records will still be held at RAF Innsworth. You will need to apply in writing. A search fee of £25 is currently payable and you will need to prove that you are next of kin. The address to apply to is:
RAF Personnel Management Agency,
Disclosure of Information Office,
PMA (IM)1b,
RAF Innsworth,
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ:"
"If an individual had any service beyond the mid 1920s, or if he had a service number higher than 329,000, records will still be held at RAF Innsworth. You will need to apply in writing. A search fee of £25 is currently payable and you will need to prove that you are next of kin. The address to apply to is:
RAF Personnel Management Agency,
Disclosure of Information Office,
PMA (IM)1b,
RAF Innsworth,
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ:"
Gave me a few LOLs for sure.Eric Mc said:
mybrainhurts said:
Good luck with your research, and let's be hearing what you find.
My uncle's history was a bit shorter...
Jumped out of Sterling over Calais...spent rest of war in PoW camp
Short Stirling (named after the town in Scotland - not UK legal tender) My uncle's history was a bit shorter...
Jumped out of Sterling over Calais...spent rest of war in PoW camp
I knew that...
Cort out by a forrrin accowntunt...how hughmilliateing
mybrainhurts said:
Eric Mc said:
mybrainhurts said:
Good luck with your research, and let's be hearing what you find.
My uncle's history was a bit shorter...
Jumped out of Sterling over Calais...spent rest of war in PoW camp
Short Stirling (named after the town in Scotland - not UK legal tender) My uncle's history was a bit shorter...
Jumped out of Sterling over Calais...spent rest of war in PoW camp
I knew that...
Cort out by a forrrin accowntunt...how hughmilliateing
ariel said:
RAF Innsworth is your fist place to go but they may actually have moved
"If an individual had any service beyond the mid 1920s, or if he had a service number higher than 329,000, records will still be held at RAF Innsworth. You will need to apply in writing. A search fee of £25 is currently payable and you will need to prove that you are next of kin. The address to apply to is:
RAF Personnel Management Agency,
Disclosure of Information Office,
PMA (IM)1b,
RAF Innsworth,
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ:"
They have moved to RAF High Wycombe.
"If an individual had any service beyond the mid 1920s, or if he had a service number higher than 329,000, records will still be held at RAF Innsworth. You will need to apply in writing. A search fee of £25 is currently payable and you will need to prove that you are next of kin. The address to apply to is:
RAF Personnel Management Agency,
Disclosure of Information Office,
PMA (IM)1b,
RAF Innsworth,
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ:"
They have moved to RAF High Wycombe.
TPAC said:
mybrainhurts said:
Eric Mc said:
mybrainhurts said:
Good luck with your research, and let's be hearing what you find.
My uncle's history was a bit shorter...
Jumped out of Sterling over Calais...spent rest of war in PoW camp
Short Stirling (named after the town in Scotland - not UK legal tender) My uncle's history was a bit shorter...
Jumped out of Sterling over Calais...spent rest of war in PoW camp
I knew that...
Cort out by a forrrin accowntunt...how hughmilliateing
As for flying Stirlings, anyone who was posted to an operational Stirling squadron might very well have thought, "Oh bum!".
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