Charlesworth, William James (Warrant Officer 1)
Prisoner of War 1942-October-11
Birth Date: 1919-April-25
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: 1940-October-23
Service
RCAF
Unit
203 (R) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Occidens Oriensque East and west
Base
Rank
Warrant Officer 1
Position
Service Numbers
R/78416
PoW: 808
Toronto, Ontario
MI9 PoW Release InterrogationCrew or Other Personnel
Maryland AH280
Mission
Maryland Mk. II AH280
Reconnaissance 1942-October-11 to 1942-October-11
203 (R) Sqn (RAF) Heraklion Crete
Shipping search, north of Crete.
1942-October-11 Maryland AH280 was hit by enemy flak as it circled a convoy while sending out signals for a striking force to home in on. They ditched off the southwest corner of Crete. Escaping the sinking aircraft the crew of four drifted in a two 1-man dinghies for eighteen hours before being picked up by a Dornier flying boat from the 7th Seenotstaffel. A Bristol Beaufighter flying out of Malta had directed the German flying boat to the rafts. In 2000, Hickson was contacted by the German pilot that saved them and many details of the rescue were exchanged.
The following crew members also failed to return:
- Lieutenant FJ Bergh, pilot, SAAF
- Sergeant W Mitchell, RAF
Operations Record Book 203 SquadronMaryland AH280 Mk. II - Reconnaissance - 1942-10-11 to 1942-10-11
Squadron: 203 (R) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1942-10-11
Completion Date: 1942-10-11
Mission: Reconnaissance
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: Heraklion Crete
Take Off Time: 12:48:00
Squadron Code: PP-Y
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: South east Crete ditching
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
Shipping search, north of Crete.
1942-October-11 Maryland AH280 was hit by enemy flak as it circled a convoy while sending out signals for a striking force to home in on. They ditched off the southwest corner of Crete. Escaping the sinking aircraft the crew of four drifted in a two 1-man dinghies for eighteen hours before being picked up by a Dornier flying boat from the 7th Seenotstaffel. A Bristol Beaufighter flying out of Malta had directed the German flying boat to the rafts. In 2000, Hickson was contacted by the German pilot that saved them and many details of the rescue were exchanged.
The following crew members also failed to return:
- Lieutenant FJ Bergh, pilot, SAAF
- Sergeant W Mitchell, RAF
