Squadron: 458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)
Start Date: 1943-07-13
Completion Date: 1943-07-13
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Sardinia
Target Specific: armed reconnaissance
Base: RAF Protville, Tunisia
Take Off Time: 2045
Squadron Code:
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Sardinia
Crash Specifics: Mediterranean Sea North of Sardinia
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP 629 was on an arrmed reconnaissance patrol and reported a contact at 2320 hours. No further contact was received and the aircraft failed to return from a sea search off Sardinia. It was presumed to have been shot down by a night fighter or anti-aircraft fire. Casualties included: RCAF F/O's W.C. Hailstone (pilot) and J.A. Diggins (navigator), RCAF W/O II's H.E. Bradley (wireless air gunner), D.H. McConechey (wireless air gunner), and W.W. Wright (wireless air gunner); RAFVR Flt. Sgt. F.G. Crocker (second pilot); RAFVR Sgt. J. Tindal (wireless air gunner); and RAAF Flt. Lt. K.J. Neill (navigator).
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP 629 was on an arrmed reconnaissance patrol and reported a contact at 2320 hours. No further contact was received and the aircraft failed to return from a sea search off Sardinia. It was presumed to have been shot down by a night fighter or anti-aircraft fire. Casualties included: RCAF F/O's W.C. Hailstone (pilot) and J.A. Diggins (navigator), RCAF W/O II's H.E. Bradley (wireless air gunner), D.H. McConechey (wireless air gunner), and W.W. Wright (wireless air gunner); RAFVR Flt. Sgt. F.G. Crocker (second pilot); RAFVR Sgt. J. Tindal (wireless air gunner); and RAAF Flt. Lt. K.J. Neill (navigator).
