ARCHER, PHILLIP LESLIE IRVING Initials: P L I Nationality:United Kingdom Rank: Squadron Leader Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force Age: 27 Date of Death: 17/06/1943 Service No: J/3508 Awards: D F C Additional information: Son of Frederick Leslie and Millicent Beryl Archer, of Hastings St. Michael, Barbados.
R Sc. 17 June 1943 421 RCAF Squadron.Spitfire IX LZ996 Rodeo pm. Shot down by JG26 Fw190 near St.Omer.FCL Vo.2 Franks. Extract courtesy CXX ww2chat.com. Source spitfires.ukf.net: 6 enemy aircraft credited Source: Air Force Association of Canada:- ARCHER, F/L Phillip Leslie Irving (J3508) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.416 Squadron - Award effective 24 August 1942 as per London Gazette dated 11 September 1942 and AFRO 1535/42 dated 25 September 1942.
Born in Bridgetown, Barbados, 1917. Joined RCAF in Montreal, 6 June 1940. Trained at No.1 ITS , No.6 EFTS, and No.1 SFTS.  Posted overseas immediately; to No.57 OTU, 17 February 1941; to No.92 Squadron, 5 May 1941 where he destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged one.  To No.412 Squadron, 11 November 1941; to No.416 Squadron (”A” Flight Commander), 10 March 1942.  To Station Kenley, 1 December 1942.  Presented with award 9 February 1943.  Designated CO, No.402 Squadron, 13 June 1943 and attached to No.421 Squadron for a few days to get back to operational standards.  On 17 June 1943 he took command of No.421 Squadron on posting of CO; killed in action 17 June 1943.   Aerial victories as follows: 23 June 1941, one Bf.109F destroyed southeast of Boulogne; 7 July 1941, one Bf.109F destroyed and one damaged near Lille; 9 July 1941, one Bf.109F destroyed near Bethune; 18 July 1942,  one Do.217 destroyed east of Orfordness; 17 June 1943, one FW.190 destroyed (action in which he was killed).  Photo PL-7689 (with P/O Buchan); PL-7690 (in front of Spitfire); PL-11906 (portrait); PL-15375 (F/L E.H. McCaffrey, S/L P.L.I. Archer, F/L D.J. Williams after investiture). 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.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 8. Row A. Grave 1. Cemetery: LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY,FRANCE
[Source: Air Force Association of Canada & cwgc; courtesy Jerome Lee]

CAMACHO, F/L Vivian Evelyn (J4899) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.59 Squadron -

Award effective 1 September 1944 as per London Gazette dated 15 September 1944 and AFRO 2373/44 dated 3 November 1944.
Born 1919 in British West Indies (Antigua); served in Officer Training Corps, England, 1932-1936.  Home in Radcliffe, Manitoba; enlisted in Montreal 24 August 1940.  Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 3 November 1940), No.3 EFTS (graduated 23 December 1940) and No.5 SFTS (graduated 17 March 1941).
Invested with award by King George 29 June 1945. This officer completed a tour of operational duty on Hudson aircraft.  He has since taken part in many anti-submarine patrols.  Early this year he was captain of an aircraft which delivered a telling attack on an enemy U-boat.  This attack was pressed home in the face of extremely heavy anti-aircraft fire and in very bad weather.  Since the above action Flight Lieutenant Camacho has continued to display great keenness and a fine fighting spirit.

NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/9276 has original recommendation dated 17 July 1944 when he had flown 23 Very Long Range sorties (326 operational hours); he was reported as having flown 500 hours on his first tour ! This officer joined No.59 Squadron on the 12th November 1943, and has since completed 23 sorties. This is his second operational tour wit Coastal Command, having already competed a tour on Hudson aircraft prior to joining this unit. On the 27th May 1944, Flight Lieutenant Camacho was captain of aircraft “S” (No.59 Squadron) when a U-boat was sighted in an estimated position of 62∞ 37′ North, 00∞ 57′ East.  The weather conditions at the time were extremely bad and the captain was forced to descend below 300 feet before breaking cloud and making his sighting, having previously obtained a radar contact. The captain, however, pressed home a very determined attack at low altitude in the face of extremely heavy flak. During the run in, the starboard engine was damaged by a cannon shell to such an extent that the aircraft returned to base on the remaining three engines.  The attack was, however, well executed, and an analysis given by higher authority was “probably sunk”. Since the above action, Flight Lieutenant Camacho has continued to display great keenness and aggressiveness in carrying out his duties concerning U-boat warfare, and has been a fine example to junior and less experienced members of the squadron.
[Source: Air Force Association of Canada; courtesy Jerome Lee]

67642 - Thomas Reader Russel Wood - F/O - Pilot - 115 sqn - Welington - KIA 3.6.1942

WOOD Initials: T R Nationality: British Guiana Rank: Pilot Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Sunday Guardian 14 June 1942:- PO T R Wood, son of the Hon’ble B R Wood of British Guiana, reported missing after Bremen raid on night June 4/5 1942. Sometime during Oct/Nov last year (1941), he injured his shoulder when forced to bail out after petrol supply ran out.
Possibly this Officer: WOOD, THOMAS READER RUSSELL Initials: T R R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 115 Sqdn.Date of Death: 03/06/1942 Service No: 67642 Additional information: Wellington X3635 Airborne 2300 3 Jun 42 from Marham. Cause of loss and crash-site are not established. Four of those killed are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, but F/O Wood is buried in Becklingen War Cemetery. F/O T.R.R.Wood KIA Sgt J.W.Chapman RNZAF KIA Sgt L.J.Howe KIA Sgt M.J.M.Davies KIA P/O H.B.Pearce PoW Sgt B.F.Wischusen KIA P/O H.B.Pearce was interned in Camp L3, PoW No.556.Notice of award of DFC Gazetted London Gazeette 36108_3383/4 on 23 Jul 1943. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 26. G. 12.Cemetery: BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY

[Picture: Dominica Legion, a branch of the Royal Commonwealth Ex Servicemen League, courtesy Gabriel Christian]

This stamp was issued in 1998 to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. It reflect the portraits of Dominicans who served with Honor as RAF Aircrew. From left to right; Wallace Wordsworth Plenderlieth, L.A. McKoy, Harold Cherberd Bryant, DFC, Clifford Severin, Edward Dyrample (AKA Edward Scobie). McKoy, Bryant and Osmunde St. Claire Alleyne were killed in action. Their names are on the cenotaph on Victoria Street Roseau next to the battlements of the old British Army Fort Young (within which a modern hotel now nestles - cannons and all). Every year the aged veterans (very few left), the Police, Scouts, Girl Guides and Army Cadets of the Dominica Cadet Corps parade by in honor to men who are considered heroes for the gallant service rendered in the fight for democracy and freedom.

FLYING OFFICER HAROLD CHERBERD BRYANT

Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Air Gunner)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 514 Squadron
Age: 32
Date of Death: 02/05/1944
Service No: 143598
Awards; D.F.C
Additional Information: Son of Gerald King Bryan and Helen Bryant of Dominica
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Block “S” Plot 4. Row U. Coll., Grave 8-14
Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN

[Courtesy Gabriel Christian]

Wing Commander, Aubrey Inniss, DFC, wartime fighter ace, was born in Barbados on November 21, 1916. He joined the RAF in January 1939 on a service commission and by September when war broke out he had been trained and was posted to 236 Squadron, flying the Blenheim 4Fs on anti-shipping duties. On September 23, 1940 Inniss had his first kill when he shot down a Heinkel He 111. In 1941 he was posted to the 248 Squadron, flying the Beaufighter which was a powerful and much faster aircraft with four 20mm cannon and six machine guns. Patrolling from St. Eval in Cornwall to as far as the Bay of Biscay, he was able to shoot down two Ju 88s in January and March 1943. In July of the same year he was awarded his DFC having added another victim to his tally. He was later promoted to Wing Commander and ended the war with seven (7) kills. Aubrey Inniss retired from the RAF in 1958 and along with his wife Ruth, ran a fishing pub at Sheepwash, North Devon. After his wife‘s death in 1975, he spent most of his time in Barbados and died there on January 30th, 2003 at the age of 86.

[Source: Barbados Postal Service]

In 2008 the Barbados Postal Service issued a set of stamps commemorating their men who served in the Royal Air Force in WW2, Aubrey Inniss is portrayed on the one to the right. More »

Herman Francis Grant  EDE - F/O
Service No: 33307  Service: RAF
Trade/Branch:   Pilot   263 Sqn Gladiator
Station/Unit/Ship: HMS Glorious
Command:   Fighter
Nationality: Bermuda
Awards/Decorations: DFC
Disposal:   KIA   Age  23  yrs   Date Died:    9 Jun 1940

Equipped with Gladiators and sent to Norway in April 1940 in an attempt to give air cover for British and Norwegian forces. Operations from the frozen Lake Lesjaskag ended when Luftwaffe bombers destroyed the aircraft on the ground and returned to the UK to re-equip. In May, the squadron arrived back in Norway, this time further north and flew patrols until the Allied forces were withdrawn from Narvik. They fought continuously until 7 June, claiming 26 confirmed victories. 10 Gladiator aircraft of 263 Sqn were flown on board HMS Glorious in the early hours of 8 June for transport to the UK. Shortly after 1600hrs on 8 Jun 1940, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst were sighted. “Glorious” received her first hit from Scharnhorst at 1638hrs and sank at about 1810hrs. Also sunk were HMS Ardent & HMS Acasta. Total losses of over 1500 officers & men of the RN, RM and RAF.

Buried At: Runnymede Memorial Grave/Memorial : Panel 5
Next of Kin: Son of Ernest Grant Ede and Winifred Louise Ede, of Pembroke, Bermuda.

[Sources: CWGC - www.warship.org - MOD]

Name: ROBERTSON, JAMES DUNCAN ALEXANDER
Initials: J D A
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unitt: 160 Sqn
Age: 22
Date of Death: 01/05/1945
Service No: J/29252
Awards: D F C
Additional information: Son of Frederick Henry Robertson and Madge Robertson,(nee Goodey) of St Andrew, Jamaica.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 456.
Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

Liberator GR.V BZ868 Ran out of fuel and ditched 100 mi SE of Trincomalee, Ceylon May 1, 1945.

S/L D G M Joy
F/O F L Newby
F/O J D A Robertson
F/O R L Freeman
W/O P R Arscott
W/O C N Fisher
F/S J L MacDonald
F/S G P Brown

From the Squadron ORB:

Three American Mk. 36 mines were dropped between positions 011342N 1033330(?)E and 011330N 1033620(?)E. On return journey when in position 0710(?) 830?E all engines failed and captain glided aircraft from ???? feet to sea level, levelled out and ditched. The crew got out with the exception of J29???F/O D. J. A. Robertson (Nav) who was not again seen. The Captain Can C12?? S/Ldr D. G. M. Joy suffered from sever head injuries in the ditching and died in the water. Aus. 414878(?) W/O P. D? Arscott (Wop/AG) was drowned. The remainder of the crew were in the water approx. 8 hrs until being picked up by HSL after sighting A/C.

http://www.rquirk.com/160oper/160sqdn1945bknmar07.pdf

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

1383411 - B.F.H. Miller - Barbados - Ach/Observer - attested 31.12.40
158294 - P/O - D.F. 22.10.43

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 - Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Name: MILLER, BRUCE FITZGERALD HENRY
Initials: B F H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 103 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 22/10/1943
Service No: 158294
Awards: D F C
Additional information: Husband of Helen Elizabeth Miller, of Sawley, Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 16. E. 9.
Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY

Lancaster LM314 Mission to Kassel

T/O18.00 from Elsham Wolds. Crashed at Rischenau, 9 km SSE of Lügde.

W/O K R Lee DFC
F/L P J Blurton DFC (P2)
Sgt M Sheedy
P/O B F H Miller DFC
Sgt D Adams
Sgt C W Gray
Sgt C L Spink
F/Sgt G G Sveinson RCAF

DFC LG’d 28th March, 1944
Pilot Officer Bruce Fitzgerald Henry MILLER (158294), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
No. 103 Squadron, with effect from 17th October, 1943

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

The Barbados Second Contingent
Back row: C.P. King, J.S. Partridge, A.A. Walrond, J.L.L. Yearwood, M.R. Cuke, E.W. Barrow - Front row: G.D. Cumberbatch, A.P.C. Dunlop, H.E.S. Worme, G.A. Barrow, A.O. Weekes, B.F.H. Miller.

Subsequently killed were: Sgt. Charles Parnell King, Sgt. Arthur Adolphus Walrond, Pilot Mark Radford Cuke, Sgt. Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, Flying Officer Andrew P.C. Dunlop, Pilot Officer Bruce F.H. Miller

The First Contingent, the Harold Wright Contingent as is became known, sailed 27th July 1940 and was recruited for the forces generally. However, the Second Contingent were recruited for the RAF and departed Barbados in November 1940. The 12 men selected included Errol W. Barrow, who would survive the war, enter politics and eventually become Barbados’ first Prime Minister (1966-1976)

[Source: Barbados at War 1939-1945 by Warren Alleyne, privately published 1999, p.9]

In 2008 the Barbados Postal Service issued a set of stamps commemorating their men who served in the Royal Air Force in WW2. More »

Flying Officer - Pilot - DFC - KIA 17 Sept. 1944 (Operation Market Garden?)

Cremated, buried Stonefall War Grave Cemetery

[Source: AD]

Flight Lieutenant -  DFC

Son of Mr & Mrs George Barnard of Choiseul, St Lucia. Report states: “Is back on active service after reported missing last September” (1942). Brought down over Lille, eluded capture and escaped through France - Spain - Gibraltar

[Source: The Trinidad Guardian 17 Mar 1943, courtesy Jerome Lee, CMHA]