LEST WE FORGET
Aircraft Accident (No. 458 Squadron Casualties), Egypt, 13 July 1943
A No. 458 Squadron Operations Record Book entry on 13 July 1943 records “on this day advice was received from No. 5 Middle East Training School (METS) that the undermentioned officers of this Squadron who were undergoing a torpedo course were killed in a flying accident at Shallufa, Egypt.”
On 13 July 1943, METS Wellington aircraft HX734 was lost in a training accident. On board were:
Pilot Officer Charles Norman Adcock (42561) (RAFVR) (Navigator) No. 47 Squadron RAF
Flight Sergeant Matthew Thomas Metcalfe (1068354) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Douglas Beaumont Neale (102132) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flying Officer John Reid (415362) (RNZAF) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Thomas Douglas Strachan (405526) (RNZAF) (Wireless Operator)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
RAF Commands Website
Bibliography:
Alexander, P. (Peter) We Find and Destroy: history of No. 458 Squadron, The 458 Squadron Council, 1959