POW escapes from ship through hole made by torpedo

**liverpool annie** · 09-25-2009, 03:12 AM

Eventually he was posted to 450 Squadron RAAF ‘the Desert Harassers’ flying Kittyhawks against the Messerschmidt 109s of the Luftwaffe

‘Gus’ Officer ..... and the other two guys from your original post !

**Antipodean Andy** · 09-25-2009, 08:12 AM

Ah, rightio. No, pic taken of 450 Sqn in Italy in 1943. Gus was shot down over the desert in 1942 and the others were lost afterwards.

**liverpool annie** · 09-25-2009, 02:42 PM

OK ! .... it's just that you said " they had been shot down in July (1943) " I thought there might be a chance they were on the photo .... but we'll never know .... 'cos we don't know what they looked like !!

**Antipodean Andy** · 09-26-2009, 02:54 AM

Ah, I'm with you, Annie.

I also met Rob Hearn and Dick Osborn, pilot and observer respectively, from a RAF Middle East Wellington squadron. They had been shot down in July (1943)...

Yes, they were shot down in 1943 but over the desert and were being transported to Italy when torpedoed. Gus was shot down in Nov 1942 so missed 450 Sqn's move to Italy.