LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Edward Scott MURPHY DFC
Service No: 401171
Born: London, England, 13 June 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 4 January 1941 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 14 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 20 June 1944
Died: Air Operations: (No. 14 Squadron Marauder aircraft MK363), off the Italian Coast, 27 June 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Leontone Scott Murphy and Phyllis Edith Murphy, of Gardenvale, Victoria, Australia. Barrister and Solicitor; LL.M.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 11, Column 1, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation (for service with No. 14 Squadron (RAF)): Flying Officer Murphy, an accurate and exceptionally keen navigator, has taken part in numerous sorties. On several occasions he has sighted enemy convoys and the accuracy of his reports have enabled successful attacks to be made. He has always completed his reconnaissance with care and thoroughness, obtaining much valuable information.
On 27 June 1943 Marauder MK 363 took off to carry out a shipping reconnaissance between North Corsica and the east coast of Sardinia. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft after take off, but on 28 June 1943, another Marauder on patrol sighted 3 airmen clinging to wreckage 60 miles off the east coast of Sardinia. Intensive air-sea rescue operations on the 28 and 29 June failed to locate these airmen again. With no trace of the missing aircraft or crew being found following post war enquiries, it was concluded in 1948 that the missing crew members were lost at sea.
The crew members of MK363 were:
Warrant Officer Ian David Carnie (401492) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Robin Keith Francis DFC (141729) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Sydney Gordon Jellis (1188062) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Richard George Miles (41925) (RNZAF) (Second Pilot)
Flying Officer Edward Scott Murphy DFC (401017) (Navigator)
Sergeant Douglas William Sloggett (978473) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
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
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/28/105
Bibliography:
Napier, Michael Winged Crusaders: the exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915-1945, Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley UK, 2012