Top right Alec Chopping(Navigator),next J Radmoore(Rear Gunner),next A Dacy(Bomb Aimer)

 

Bottom Left D.M Allen(Pilot) next L D Butler (Wop/Ag)

From the Ops Record Books, Jessore, September 1943:

 

Five crews, captained by S/L ERCOLANI, F/O ALLAN  P/O RICHARDS  W/O PATTERSON  SGT. BRODIE were detailed to attack targets in AKYAB town.  Four crews reached the target area but could not attack because of cloud and brought their bombs back.

 

F/O ALLAN after about an hour’s flying from base found his port engine cut out completely.  He immediately attempted to return to base on the good engine remaining, but despite jettisoning as much as possible he could not maintain height, and after sending out an SOS for five minutes the aircraft ditched at 20.15 hours.  Although all the crew were in their ditching positions at the time of impact only F/O ALLAN, SGT. CHOPPING (navigator) and SGT. BUTLER (w/operator) were able to get clear of the aircraft, but no sign was seen of SGT. DACEY, the bomb-aimer, and SGT RADMORE, who were thus presumed to have gone down with the aircraft.

 

 

The SOS was received at ONDAL, and a search for the crew was immediately organised aircraft being captained by W/Cdr MADDOX, F/O BENT, P/O CLEMENT, P/O HAMILTON SGT. TRUMAN, and the dinghy was located by P/O HAMILTON’s crew at a position 21°45’N  90°48’E.  Aircraft continued to circle the dinghy’s position and to drop supplies, and on the searching aircraft’s instructions a launch came from No. 226 Air/Sea Rescue Unit at Chittagong and finally picked up the survivors at 19.15 hours, and took them to 166 Wing Sick Quarters at CHITTAGONG: F/O ALLAN and SGT BUTLER suffering from exposure, and SGT. CHOPPING from a broken ankle.  On the impact of the aircraft the dinghy had been ejected in a damaged condition, which necessitated one member of the crew being in the water the whole period.  This was the first rescue made by No. 226 Air/Sea Rescue Unit since commissioning in India.