LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Bruce Elwell HISLOP
Service No: 400589
Born: Melbourne VIC, 6 September 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 September 1940
Unit: No. 88 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Attlebridge, Norfolk
Died: Air Operations: (No. 88 Squadron Blenheim aircraft V6380), off the Belgian Coast, 18 September 1941, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur McKenzie Hislop and Ellie Elwell Hislop, of St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia. A.C.A.(Aust.), A.I.C.A., Licensed Auditor (Victoria)
Roll of Honour: Melbourne VIC
Remembered: Panel 62, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0930 hours on 18 September 1941 Blenheim V6380 in formation and escorted by fighters took off from Attlebridge to attack a 5,000 ton enemy Oil Tanker escorted by 9 Flak ships off Ostend. The Hurricanes attacked the Flak ships, two of which were put out of action. The Blenheims attacked at sea level registering hits on the tanker and made their getaway. On the return journey the formation was attacked by 20 enemy fighters. Two Blenheims including V6380 were shot down and crashed into the sea with the crew on one of the aircraft seen climbing into a dinghy.
The crew members of V6380 were:
Pilot Officer Robert Melville Burlinson (J/5076) (RCAF) (Observer) Remains recovered
Pilot Officer Bruce Elwell Hislop (400589) (Pilot)
Sergeant Maurice Albert Stratton (1381648) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Remains recovered
The crew members of No. 88 Squadron Blenheim Z7488 that was shot down in the same action and who were also lost were:
Pilot Officer Tancred Eric Cooper (39901) (RNZAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant Ross Stewart Hambly (R/61805) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Seymour Robert Edward Hammersley (581056) (RAF) (Observer)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Chorley W R, Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 2 Aircraft and Aircrew Losses 1941, Midland Counties Publications UK, 1993
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/36/109