14th April 1943

Westland WHIRLWIND Mk I - P7010 (code HE-? )
at the " Pointe Saint-Mathieu ? " (near Brest 29)
(contributors : Westland Whirlwind Fighter Project)

Pilot

photo © WHIRLWIND Fighter Project (Facebook)

Sergeant John B. MACAULAY (service number 1113286 - RAF VR), 23 years old, missing.
Born in Glasgow.
Panel 157, RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL (England)
No. 263 Squadron RAF

THE STORY

On April 14, 1943, shipping was reported in the Aber Vrac'h estuary, near Lannilis, in northwestern Finistère. An attack mission against these ships (mission "Roadstead No. 57") was organized, and five Westland Whirlwind aircraft took off from RAF Predannack, at the southwestern tip of England, at 3:30 PM. Each fighter-bomber was equipped with two 250 lb bombs. The Whirlwinds were escorted by 12 Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron RAF (eight Mk Vb and four Mk Vc). F/O. Harvey, who was leading the mission, headed too far south, and the aircraft arrived in the Brest area where they spotted three ships. The first ship, believed to be an 800-ton dredger, was bombed and claimed to be on fire with a direct hit. The films showed that it was a large trawler-type with a heavy crane in the bows. It was also attacked with cannon, as were the two other boats, also trawler-types. Sergeant Macaulay attacked a fourth smaller boat alone. He was not seen again, but the Commanding Officer of No. 65 Squadron heard him say, " I'm going down now, I'm going to land ", which made other airmen hope that he had made a safe forced landing in the Brest area. Flight Officer Harvey reported firing at a Junkers W 34 but was unable to see the result of his shot. Another Junkers W 34 was claimed by Pilot Officer Loud of 65 Squadron. No. 65 Squadron also claimed to have destroyed a light Flak gun emplacement and its crew.   

APPENDICES

♦ Extract from document AIR-27-1551-01 (Operational Record Book no 263 Squadron RAF) for the date of April 14, 1943.
   (source : The National Archives)

This document gives details about the mission and indicates that Sgt Macaulay failed to return from the mission.

♦ Extract from document AIR-27-1548-29 and AIR-27-1548-30 (Operational Record Book no 263 Squadron RAF) for the date of April 14, 1943.
   (source : The National Archives)

This document gives information about the mission, including the aircraft numbers and names of the 5 Whirlwind pilots. The 5 aircraft took off at 3:30 PM and only 4 returned at 5:05 PM.