Arklie, Andrew Melville (Warrant Officer 1st Class)

Prisoner of War 1943-January-02

Warrant Officer 1st Class Andrew Melville Arklie RCAF

Birth Date: 1914-December-26

Born: Stony Mountain Manitoba Canada

Parents: Charles Hughes Arklie & Margaret Isabel Leslie Arklie

Spouse: Husband of Caroline Julianna Handkamer Arklie

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment: Winnipeg Manitoba

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

260 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Celer Et Fortis Swift and strong

Base

RAF Haifa, Isreal

Rank

Warrant Officer 1st Class

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

R/80104
PoW: 27423

Home
Google MapWinnipeg, Manitoba
Final Burial
Google MapChapel Lawn Memorial Garden

260 Squadron (Celer et fortis) RAF Hamraiet 1.

Data from 260 Squadron ORB. Right-click to open in new browser tab

Flight Sergeant Arklie was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class in November 1942, unbeknownst to anyone in the field. Noted on PoW card from RCAF History & Heritage Records Ottawa.

Arklie had noticed an oil leak early in the mission, but made a judgement to continue. He participated in the dog fight over Churgia, but the oil leak became severe and the engine seized. Arklie landed in the desert behind enemy lines on return. Flying Officer Arklie's personal testimony to his son Hugh Arklie, post war.

Operatins Record Books Monthly Operations Record Book

Operatins Record Books Daily Operations Record Book

Unvetted Source Airfields in Libya and Egypt

Royal Canadian Air Force MI-9 PoW Questionnaire

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Mission

Kittyhawk Mk. III FR111

Combat Bi'r al Khurjah Libya 1943-January-02 to 1943-January-02

260 (F) Sqn (RAF) Hamraiet 1
From new base Hamraiet, 19 miles South West of Sirte
Waypoint Gheddahia [Qaryat Al Qaddahiyah]
Target Bi'r al Khurjah, Libya

Eleven Kittyhawk III sent on sweep over Churgia Landing Ground [Bi'r al Khurjah]. Our aircraft proceed out at ground level on a course of ??? and commenced to climb in square (B)X 06. When over Gheddahia at 2/3000' intense accurate light and heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered. When over Churgia our top cover engaged 5(?) Me. 109s. Meanwhile 10+ Me. 109s took off and a general dogfight started. Squadron Leader Hanbury attacked one of the enemy aircraft at 2000'. It exploded and crashed at (R)S 2927. This incident was witnessed by Flight Sergeant Thomas and Flying Officer Perkins. Flight Lieutenant Edwards "Stocky Edwards" attacked another 109, and later a further 109. The latter enemy aircraft crashed at (R)S 2829 (?). Flying Officer Perkins fired at a 109 at 1/2000' and at a range of 50 yards and saw strikes on airscrew and engine. Flying Officer Perkins claimed this as a damaged. Pilot Officer Fallows also fired but made no claim.

Single engined aircraft were noted dispersed on the South side of the Landing Ground. A burnt out DC 3 was noted 8 miles South East of ??? Landing Ground

On the return journey Squadron Leader Hanbury and Pilot Officer Perkins shot up a German motor bowser and some troops slightly North West of Churgia Landing Ground. From this operation Flight Sergeant Arklie failed to return. Another aircraft (Sergeant Tuck) was shot up, Category II, and made a force landing at (R)S 7500. Sergeant Tuck returned to his unit after being picked up by the army. Visibility was good, 7/10 - 10/10 cloud at 10/12000'

Squadron Leader OV Hanbury, Flying Officer LV Flury, Flying Officer HP Perkins, Flight Lieutenant JF "Stocky" Edwards, Sergeant GD Tuck, Flying Officer G Fallows, Flying Officer RS Kent, Flight Sergeant EB Thomas, Flight Sergeant WH Parlee, Flight Sergeant WE Stewart, Flight Sergeant AM Arklie.

Supplemental Story

Winnipeg Free Press 1943
Leading Aircraftman Arklie in Tiger Moth at No 6 Elementary Flying Training School, Prince Albert Saskatchewan
Leading Aircraftman Arklie in Harvard trainer at No 11 Service Flying Training School, Yorkton Saskatchewan
Receiving Pilot Wings September 11 1941
Flight Sergeant Arklie back from a battle operation in 1942
Flight Sergeant Arklie with P-40 Kittyhawk 1942 North Africa (likely Egypt)

 

Unvetted Source After return from Europe Arklie spent some time in an RCAF Convalescent Hospital in Hamilton: Auchmar Mansion

Google Map Auchmar Manison

Warrant Officer 1st Class Arklie (centre) in London after release from Prisoner of War camp in Poland (Stalag VIII B / 344, Lamsdorf Poland)
Pilot Officer Arklie at No 2 Convalescent Hospital in Hamilton 1945
Warrant Officer Arklie after liberation, April 1945
Sergeant Arklie at Graduation in Canada, September 1941

Mrs. Arklie (Warrant Officer Arklie's wife) worked at the kitchen table in the early 1950s making a claim for compensation for Dad as invited by the War Claims Commission. She requested $1.00 per day of her husbands captivity or $828.00.

Here is what was awarded:

830 days of internment
$166.00
Aggravating incidents:
Shackling with Dieppe prisoners
60.00
Hunger march
49.60
Malnutrition
50.00
Custody of Gestapo
11.20
Transportation in cattle car
20.00
Total
$356.80

 

This was arbitrarily increased by 50% or $178.40 in 1959.