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The Secretary, No. 46 Squadron RFC and RAF Association,
Dear Sir, I write in the hope that you may be able to assist me in my attempts to research the involvement of Frank Douglas in No. 46 Squadron. Below, I have identified Frank, who was my mother’s brother, together with a brief description of his service with the Squadron.
The photo at left was taken soon after Frank received his commission and was promoted to Flying Officer on 19 May 1944. Frank was posted to RAF Stoney Cross on 8 February 1945 and was attached to No. 46 Squadron which had arrived there from North Africa in January 1945. He had previously been a Lancaster pilot with No. 467 Squadron (RAAF) based at Waddington. He was born in Cloncurry, Queensland on 1 Jan 1921 and enlisted under the EAT Scheme in April 1942. At No.3 ITS, Sandgate, Queensland, he completed basic flying training on No. 27 Pilot’s Course (DH82). He moved, on 3 Sep 1942, to No.8 EFTS at Narrandera, New South Wales for initial aircrew training as a pilot flying DH82 and Avro Anson trainer aircraft. On 11 December 1942 he sailed for Canada and underwent further aircrew training on Cessna Crane trainers at No.12 SFTS, Brandon, Manitoba. He arrived at No.11 PDRC on 5 Jun 1943 and was attached to No. 50 Group (Pool). He undertook further advanced aircrew training on Airspeed Oxfords followed by a conversion course to Wellingtons. He flew Wellingtons on operations out of a satellite of RAF Ramsbury in Wiltshire for most of the second half of 1943. During the early months of 1944 he undertook a conversion course (to Lancasters I presume) at 1660 CU. After his discharge as an airman (F/SGT Pilot) and upon receiving his officer’s commission he was attached to No. 467 Squadron at Waddington on 30 Jun 1944.
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Flying Officer Francis William Douglas DFC RAAF |
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Grave of Fg Off Francis William Douglas at Mazargues CWG, Marseilles, France |
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Crash of Sterling PJ 911 March 1945 |
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Yours faithfully Mr W.J. (John) Oliver |
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Having completing two tours with 467 Squadron, he was attached to No. 26 OTU on 18 Nov 1944 where he presumably undertook a conversion course to obtain his endorsement to fly Stirlings. On 17 March 1945, a little over a month after his arrival at RAF Stoney Cross he drew an issue of Tropical Kit, presumably in preparation for operations on the Far East Service to India. I have photographs he took in Iraq (Baghdad is annotated on several) and over Tel Aviv. The next entry in his service record was a notification that he was “missing presumed dead” on 24 Mar 1945. The record states that this was a non-operational flight (whatever, that meant with the war in Europe still dragging on). Without the benefit of his Pilot’s Log and any further detail in his service record I am unable to complete an accurate reconstruction of the tragic events of the fatal crash. The record shows that it occurred in the Canigou Mountains of S-W France. Surely there should have been an accident investigation report and some entries regarding his burial. Perhaps there is a record in the Squadron’s Archives. Family oral history attributes poor flying conditions as a cause of the crash. All 14 personnel on board were killed and were buried in the Mazargues CWG Cemetery at Marseilles, France (photo below). He was posthumously awarded the DFC which primarily related to his record as a Lancaster pilot with 467 Squadron. Please note that some inaccuracies may exist in my embellishments of the bare facts taken from Frank’s records. Your advice that may correct any such error or omission would be greatly appreciated.
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