Squadron: 458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)
Start Date: 1943-03-25
Completion Date: 1943-03-25
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Naples Italy
Target Specific: armed shipping search
Base: RAF Luqa, Malta
Take Off Time: 21:20
Squadron Code: U
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Trapani, Italy
Crash Specifics: near Paceso, off the Italian coast
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington LB172 was equipped with torpedoes to carry out an armed shipping search covering an area East of Sardinia, Maritime, Palermo, and Naples. The aircraft requested a bearing back to Base while it was between Palermo and Naples. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and the aircraft failed to return. The cause of the crash was unknown. All crew members were taken Prisoners of War: RCAF Sgt. T.J. Crouch; RNZAF W.P. Hermann; RAAF Pilot Officer H.T. Lambie; RAAF Sgt. R.W. Mellor; RAAF Sgt. F.O. Raymond; and RAAF W/O J.G. Shierlaw. W/O Shierlaw was subsequently killed during a mistaken allied air attack on Prisoners of War near the German village of Gresse in 1945.
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington LB172 was equipped with torpedoes to carry out an armed shipping search covering an area East of Sardinia, Maritime, Palermo, and Naples. The aircraft requested a bearing back to Base while it was between Palermo and Naples. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and the aircraft failed to return. The cause of the crash was unknown. All crew members were taken Prisoners of War: RCAF Sgt. T.J. Crouch; RNZAF W.P. Hermann; RAAF Pilot Officer H.T. Lambie; RAAF Sgt. R.W. Mellor; RAAF Sgt. F.O. Raymond; and RAAF W/O J.G. Shierlaw. W/O Shierlaw was subsequently killed during a mistaken allied air attack on Prisoners of War near the German village of Gresse in 1945.
