Date: 25th August 1942
Unit: No. 459 Squadron (Australian)
Type: Hudson
Serial: ?
Coded: GK-?
Location: North West of Burg el Arab, LG Z, Gianaclis, Egypt
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Kenneth Norman Macmillan R/65413 R.C.A.F. Age; 21, Killed (Newton, Massachusetts.)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Desmond Purcell R/69899 R.C.A.F. Age; 32, Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Edward Michael Lamb R/56424 R.C.A.F. Age; 22, Killed
Passengers: 2 X R.A.F. Crew - details as yet unavailable. R.A.F. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Equipped with Hudsons and Blenheims, No 459 Squadron formed in Egypt in February 1942. Operating in a maritime reconnaissance role, the Unit began an intensive campaign against enemy shipping, in particular attacking German tank landing craft.
On 28 July 1942, four Hudsons made their first attack on two of these landing craft, damaging one so badly that it was subsequently beached. In the following months at least twelve of landing craft were sunk, and soon losses became so heavy that the Germans ceased operating these vessels during the daylight hours.
Staging through many bases in Northern Africa, No 459 Squadron's Hudsons scored a number of major successes. In September 1942 the Squadron sank an enemy destroyer, while the following year a German U-boat was destroyed.
The aircraft stalled whilst in a turn at low altitude and crashed - killing all on board.
Air/Gnr. Fl/Sgt. John Lamb
Hudson's of 459 Squadron (Courtesy of Phillip Scrivens)
Burial Details:
Joseph Kenneth Norman Macmillan Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery. Grave. 1.H.5.
James Desmond Purcell Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery. Grave. 1.H.1.
Son of James Joseph and of Elizabeth (nee Carpenter), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
John Edward Michael Lamb Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery. Grave. 1.H.2.
Son of Mr and Mrs P.J. Lamb, Montreal, Canada.
Passengers No further details - research continues.
Research by David King (Aircrew Remembrance Society March 2009)
