CAMACHO – Vivian Evelyn

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]

NANTON – Patrick Bindon

1383400 – P.B. Nanton – Leeward & Windward Islands – attested 30.12.40 – Pilot
118548 – P/O – commissioned 27.3.42 – Missing believed killed – D.P. 4.11.42

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

118548 – P/O – 38 Sqn – pilot – Wellington – MIA/KIA at 24 years old on 4 November 1942

Son of Robert Holberton Binden Nanton and Isabel Carden Nanton, of St. Johns, Antigua.

[Source: The Trinidad Guardian 12 Mar 1943 from The West India Committee Circular – February 1943, courtesy Jerome Lee, CMHA and Frank Ramon Clarke/CWGC]

“Seeking relatives or anyone who knew of Pat Nanton.  He was the son of Robert and Isabel Nanton of St Johns, Antigua and was a pilot in the RAF with the rank of Pilot Officer.  I joined his crew as front gunner at OTU Harwell (Berkshire).  On completion of training we flew a new Wellington bomber to Egypt at the end of July 1942 and on arrival were posted to 38 Squadron RAF based at Shallufa.  I transferred to another crew as a torpedo carrying Wellington had no front gunner.  Pat and the rest of my crew failed to return from operations against enemy shipping in the Aegean sea on 4th nov 1942.  He is listed on the war memorial at El Alamain as having died that day with no known grave at the age of 24.  Not only was he my pilot but a personal friend, a fine brave man who came from his native country to join the RAF and help us in our fight against the enemy and paid the ultimate price.  Other members of the crew not listed by the war graves commission were Sgt Barry and Sgt Williams, so it is possible they survived that fatal mission.  If anyone knows of any of these men, please contact me so we can exchange memories of old comrades.  Nobby.”
Posted By:
Frank Ramon Clarke on Sunday 28 April 2002 on www.missing-you.net

patrick-bindon-nanton-raf

 

[Photograph courtesy Audrey Dewjee]

HENRY – John Rowan

1383401 – Warrant Officer – Wireless Operator/Gunner – Completed one tour of operations

[Source: CG, MOD]

Osmund Alleyne from Dominica and J.R Henry from Antigua [Photograph IWM]