LEST WE FORGET

Flight Sergeant Robert Reginald WADDELL

Service No: 420086
Born: Hurstville NSW, 26 April 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1941
Unit: No. 255 Squadron (RAF), Blida, Algeria
Died: Air Operations: (No. 255 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft V8187), off Sicily, 27 August 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Carlyle Jackson Waddell and Susan Waddell, of Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 11, Column 2, Malta Memorial, Malta
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 27 August 1943 Beaufighter V8187 took off from Blida to carry out a calibration flight of the Palermo Radar Station, Sicily. The aircraft was attacked some 5 miles east of Scotella by two aircraft from an American Fighter Squadron who mistook the Beaufighter for a German Ju88. Hits were seen on V8187 and Flight Sergeant Noonan was seen slumped in the cockpit. Flight Sergeant Waddell attempted to make for land and covered about 40 miles to shore when one engine caught fire and he attempted to ditch in the sea but crashed. An empty rubber dinghy was sighted, but no trace of the missing crew was found.

The crew members of V8187 were:

Flight Sergeant Francis Arthur Noonan (409215) (Pilot, Supernumerary) No. 40 Squadron RAF
Flight Sergeant Robert Reginald Waddell (420086) (Pilot)

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, 166/43/341

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