Date: 17th June 1943. (Thursday)
Unit: 421 (RCAF) Squadron.
Type: Spitfire IX.
Serial: LZ996
Coded: AU - ?
Location: St. Omer, France.
Pilot: Sg/Ldr. Phillip Leslie Irving Archer R.C.A.F. D.F.C. J/3508. Age 27. Killed.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Sq/Ldr. Phillip Archer was shot down and killed on the morning of 17th June 1943, in combat with FW190s of JG/26 during a Rodeo in the area of St. Omer, a second aircraft from his unit 421 squadron, Spitfire IX BS319, piloted by F/O James Emmett McNamara was also shot down and he was also killed. Sq/Ldr. Archer was possibly on his last sortie as C.O. of 402 squadron before taking over 421 squadron.
He had been wounded in action on two occasions while flying with 92 Squadron, on the 9th July 1941 while flying a Sweep in Spitfire IIa R7195, he was wounded and the aircraft was damaged. (Aircraft repaired and returned to service) He was soon back in action and on the 21st August 1941 during another Sweep flying Spitfire Vb W3330 he was slightly wounded in the legs during combat. (Aircraft Cat 2 and returned to service.)
Phillip was credited with six confirmed aerial victories.
Phillip with his Spitfire showing his personal Archer art work. (A.R. Society archives)
In 1996 a recovery expedition took place to recover the aircraft of W/Cmdr. Douglas Badar's Spitfire that was also lost in this area. An eyewitness confirmed the location of a particular aircraft - which seemed to connect it to the Spitfire of Badar who had indeed landed by parachute close to this spot. At the site surface fragments were found bearing the stampings 300, indicating that the aircraft was indeed a Spitfire, and '6S', confirming that it was built at Southampton. Bader's Spitfire was one of only 124 Mk. VA's built, all at Southampton, so circumstantially things looked promising indeed. However, when the recovery went ahead in May 1996, it became rapidly apparent that the Spitfire concerned was not a Mk VA but a later Mk IX. Eyewitnesses were, therefore, mistaken in their connection between Bader's parachute landing and this site. Nonetheless the recovery was a great success, a massive amount of the aircraft, including the engine and most of the cockpit, being recovered. Indeed, a propeller blade and the pilot's head armour is in the office of the researcher, Mr Dilip Sarkar M.B.E. who led this expedition.
More importantly when they visited Philip Archer's grave they found that he was recorded thereon as an 'Air Gunner/Instructor'. They consequently contacted the CWGC and provided evidence confirming that Archer was a pilot. Soon afterwards the inaccurate details were ground out on the headstone (which can be seen in our photograph below) and 'Pilot' inscribed.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, LZ996, at Kenley in 1943. The pilot at right, wearing cap, is Flight Lieutenant Hugh Godefroy DFC, later a Canadian Wing Leader himself. (Courtesy Dilip Sarkar)
Dilip Sarkar actually interviewed a number of eyewitnesses, one of whom recalled the victorious German pilot visiting the wreck. This was probably Unteroffizier Paul Schwarz of 6/JG 26, who claimed his first kill, a Spitfire, in the engagement concerned. Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg, the Staffelkapitaen of 5/JG 26, also destroyed a Spitfire but immediately afterwards collided with another Spitfire.
Unteroffizier Paul Schwarz of 6/JG 26 (A.R. Society archives)
Sternberg baled out, wounded, so it is unlikely, Dilip would suggest, that it was he who visited the crash-site at Blaringhem. In addition to Archer, the Kenley Wing also lost Flying Officer McNamara, who was also killed. Dilip suspects that Sternberg shot down McNamara, Schwarz likewise Archer and Sternberg collided with LZ996 having hit McNamara. The latter was credited, however, with a damaged 190, and Archer with another destroyed. JG 26, however, only lost two Focke-Wulfs: Sternberg's to the collision and Unteroffizier Gunther Freitag of 8/JG 26, who crashed and was killed at Steenvorde - and who was undoubtedly shot down by Wing Commander Johnnie Johnson. This was a big and confused fighter combat, involving 80 - 100 FW 190s and 24 Spitfires, so over claiming, given that speed deceives the human eye, was inevitable.
Unteroffizier Paul Schwarz was later killed on the 15th July 1943 and his loss is covered "HERE".
Sg/Ldr. Phillip Leslie Irving Archer R.C.A.F. D.F.C:
Born in Bridgetown Barbados in 1917 - joined the R.C.A.F. in Montreal on the 6th June 1940.
Trained at No. 1 I.T.S, No. 6 E.F.T.S. and No. 1 S.F.T.S. Then posted overseas on the 17th February 1941 to 57 O.T.U. Joining 92 Squadron on the 5th May 1941.
Whilst serving with this squadron he had 3 confirmed kills and another one as damaged.
23rd June 1941 one Bf.109F destroyed southeast of Boulogne.
7th July 1941 one Bf.109F destroyed and one damaged near Lille.
9th July 1941 one Bf.109F destroyed near Bethune.
Moved to 412 Squadron on the 11th November 1941 and then to 416 Squadron on 10th March 1942 as A Flight commander. On the 13th June 1943 he was promoted to C.O. and then attached to 421 Squadron.
On the 17th June 1943 he then took command of 421 Squadron and was killed the same day.
18th July 1942 one Do.217 destroyed east of Orfordness.
17th June 1943 one FW.190 destroyed (action in which he was killed).
Awarded the D.F.C on the 9th February 1943. (With effect from 24th August 1942 - London Gazette 11th September 1942)
D.F.C.Citation reads:
"This officer has completed sorties over enemy territory and has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft. On one occasion, although wounded in the leg, Flight Lieutenant Archer flew his badly damaged aircraft back to the base where he executed a skilful landing. He is a most efficient leader."
Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. (Courtesy C.W.G.C.)
Grave - before and after- clearly showing the new inscription. (A.R. Society archives and Dilip Sarkar)
Burial details:
Sq/Ldr. Philip Leslie Irving Archer D.F.C. Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot 8. Row A. Grave 1.
Son of Frederick Leslie and Millicent Beryl Archer, of Hastings St. Michael, Barbados. R Sc.
