January 1942 Brewster Buffalos

Hello
Hope someone can help me with a bit of family history research.
My Dad's uncle Flt sgt Ernest Lyall was, it appears KIA in the far east on 26/1/42. (possibly @ Singapore or thereby)
I remember Dad saying that he was "effectively murdered by his own side" by being sent up in a Brewster Buffalo to fight Zeros, but I wasn't really listening, and now its too late to ask again, although there is perhaps one other family source.
However if anyone can point me toward more information I'd be very grateful.

Magnus

 

A googlesearch(therea re other search engines) gives a number of "hits" about the Brewster Buffalo such as this one

http://www.warbirdforum.com/saga.htm

USMC flying them at Midway named them "Flying Coffins"

RAF, RAAF & RNZAF usedthe type in Malaya, Dutch East Indies( with Dutch Air force) and to defend Austrailia from December 1914 untilbetter aircraft arrived.

hope thisi nfo. helps.

bill

 

Flt Sgt Ernest Lyall died piloting a 36 Squadron Vickers Vildebeest during an attack on the Japanese invasion force at Endau. Christopher Shores covers this extensively in Volume 2 of his Bloody Shambles Book.
The Lyall crew consisted of Flt Sgt E C Nodrum RAAF and Flt Sgt O Haggan, both of whom also perished.
Their deaths occurred when they were taking part in the second raid on Endau comprised of 9 Vildebeeste and 3 Albacore. They were flying in the second vic, the attack being led by 36 Squadron commander Sgn Ldr R F C Markham in the vic of 3 Albacore. Markham also perished in this raid.

From Shores pg 34

 

Magnus,

You may be interested in this book on the subject.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buffaloes-Over-Singapore-Brewster-Fighters/dp/1904010326

Regards
Tom

 

Your relative was a very brave man, in a very brave unit, when they took off they knew the odds were against them. They had already received a mauling in previous engagements and were flying obsolete aircraft against a numerically superior force but it was either them or nobody to try to stem the invasion tide.

Vickers Vildebeest K4599

Endau, Malaya

26-Jan-42

36SQN RAF - aircraft was reported lost in enemy action, other crew reported seeing K4599 shot down by Japanese carrier borne fighter aircraft and crash in flames.

Crew: RAF Sgt E Lyell (Pilot) / RAAF 400864 Sgt E C Nodrum (Observer) / RAF Sgt Haggan (Air Gunner).

 

Thank you.Thank you to everyone and God Bless the Internet!

Got rather emotional reading all the replies, but even though Dad's been dead 15 years now its like a little bit of him sprung back to life.

Wet bunkum, and not stiff-upper lip at all, I know.

Sorry chaps

 

Hi Magnus! We all owe thanks to your uncle and to the many like him.

You might like to look at "The Remorseless Road" by James McEwan, pub 1997. He was an intelligence officer with 36 squadron.

All the best

 

What were these guys thinking?

I remember reading somewhere that a squadron over that way was over the moon to get a Blenheim operational in 1943! No idea where from as we did not have much territory then. It was obsolete in 1940 for god sake but it got back to base, having done the job, never to be used again. Apparently, this was the best aircraft they had!!!!

Desperate times needed desperate measures but, that cost lives. As in so many theatres, they did not falter in their duty against all the odds. They took off, knowing the odds, not expecting to come back.

The Lotus and Caterham Versus the Mercedes and Ferrari of today's Grand Prix, hanging on by their fingers tips, hopelessly outclassed, but making a difference and winning occasionally, that is what was so important. Without that the eventual appearance of the Lancaster and the like would not have mattered because we would not have existed.

So when are we going to see some historical documentaries about these guys exploits rather than, after 2 minutes, they start to tell us about the Lancaster and Bwhatever. I love the Mossie, maybe even the Lancaster when it flies over, don't get me wrong but lets not forget these earlier exploits, because l think we do all too often.

Regards,

Nick
KenFentonsWar.com