Walter Galloway
12-19-2009, 05:45 AM
Good day. I am doing research on my family history. An uncle of mine, SR Galloway, served in the South African Air Force and was assigned to 12 Squadron operating in North Africa during WW2.
He was reported missing presumed dead on 19 December 1941 following a bombing raid on Benina Airport in Libya.
I gained access to the War Diaries of 12 Squadron kept at the archives of the South African Defence Force in Pretoria, South Africa.
The following is an extract from the War Diary of that particular day (19/12/1941):
Six aircraft on high level bombing attack on Benina aerodrome.
One aircraft flew to LG 76 where they were joined by 3 aircraft from 21 Sqdn. ; SAAF. 50 to 60 aircraft were seen on Bernina aerodrome and 12 Squadron dropped 48 x 250lb G.P.N.I. bombs from a height of 19 000ft. , all of which fell among the aircraft.
Some 10 minutes after bombing the formation was attacked by four ME 109 F’s. Maryland 1630 was shot down, two of the crew being seen to bale out; both rear gunners in Maryland 1637 were wounded. Two of the enemy aircraft were shot down.
Missing Wounded
Lt Stanford A/Sgt Addison
2/Lt de Millon A/Sgt Coetzee
A/Sgt Kahn
A/Sgt Galloway
The records gave no further reference to this incident and no indication as to what happened to the two crew members who were seen to bale out.
I am assuming that similar records would have been kept by the Luftwaffe and I would appreciate assistance/guidance in accessing those records.
He was reported missing presumed dead on 19 December 1941 following a bombing raid on Benina Airport in Libya.
I gained access to the War Diaries of 12 Squadron kept at the archives of the South African Defence Force in Pretoria, South Africa.
The following is an extract from the War Diary of that particular day (19/12/1941):
Six aircraft on high level bombing attack on Benina aerodrome.
One aircraft flew to LG 76 where they were joined by 3 aircraft from 21 Sqdn. ; SAAF. 50 to 60 aircraft were seen on Bernina aerodrome and 12 Squadron dropped 48 x 250lb G.P.N.I. bombs from a height of 19 000ft. , all of which fell among the aircraft.
Some 10 minutes after bombing the formation was attacked by four ME 109 F’s. Maryland 1630 was shot down, two of the crew being seen to bale out; both rear gunners in Maryland 1637 were wounded. Two of the enemy aircraft were shot down.
Missing Wounded
Lt Stanford A/Sgt Addison
2/Lt de Millon A/Sgt Coetzee
A/Sgt Kahn
A/Sgt Galloway
The records gave no further reference to this incident and no indication as to what happened to the two crew members who were seen to bale out.
I am assuming that similar records would have been kept by the Luftwaffe and I would appreciate assistance/guidance in accessing those records.