Hi, I am trying to find any information on a Lieutenant Brian Alexander Garden (service number 47927) who was in the SAAF. Apparently he was in 21 Squadron and took part in the North Africa campaign and died on 20/11/1941!!. I really would like to find out the aircraft / Mission /Crew list - Anything really. Any help would be really appreciated. Many Thanks
just found this to help get things started. I'm sure members will ahve more detaield info. No. 21 Squadron (SAAF) during the Second World War The squadron was heavily involved in Operation Crusader, losses four out of nine aircraft during an unescorted raid on El Adem on 20 November. also Aces of the Luftwaffe - Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt On 20 November, Stahlschmidt claimed three SAAF Maryland bombers shot down to record his 2nd through 4th victories. 20.11.1941 12:20 Martin 167 2./JG 27 SE Tobruk Maryland of 21 Sqn SAAF 20.11.1941 12:25 Martin 167 2./JG 27 SE Tobruk Maryland of 21 Sqn SAAF 20.11.1941 12:30 Martin 167 2./JG 27 SE Tobruk Maryland of 21 Sqn SAAF
From RAF Bomber Command Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean Volume 1 1939 -1942 by David Gunby & Pelham Temple Nov 20 1941 21 Squadron SAAF Maryland II AH305 E OP:Army Co-operation Lt E S Corbett SAAF KIA LT B A Garden SAAF KIA Air Sgt G N James SAAF KIA Air Sgt R G Black SAAF KIA Took off 1130, LG76, detailed as above [referring to another loss from squadron posted above this one in the book]. Shot down by Lt H A Stahlschmidt and crashed 6.5 km south of El Adem but not before its gunners had shot down one of the Bf 109 fighters, the first aircraft lost. All the crew are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Christopher Shores describes the action in detail in his recent book A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 Volume One: North Africa June 1940-January 1942. Unfortunately his research discounts the loss of the Bf 109 From pages 316-17 Now nine unescorted Marylands of 21 SAAF Squadron flew into the area to encounter the I./JG 27 Bf 109s which attacked the rear sub flight, the bomber crews later reporting being "raked from front to stern by a withering hail of cannon and machine-gun fire". The middle bomber, flown by Lt E.S. Corbett, went down with a wing on fire, all the crew being killed; it was believed by those in the other aircraft that the gunners had managed to shoot down one Messerchmitt as they fell, but this was not the case. The middle flight was then attacked , Capt J.H. Eccles' aircraft going down; he was the only survivor. The attack then shifted to the leading flight, Lt. R.S. Haines' aircraft falling and being seen to crash. At this stage the remaining six aircraft were still holding together and firing back, a second Bf 109 being claimed in flames at this stage. By now the Marylands were fleeing at zero feet as the Messerschmitts kept after them, bringing down the aircraft of the formation leader, Maj R.J. Stewart. Finally the "yellow-nosed demon", as Lt MacDonald referred to his attacker, poured a "hellish raking fire" into that pilot's bomber, pursuing him for 60 miles. Air Sgt du Pre, his guns jammed, managed to save Air Sgt Russell, who had been badly wounded in both legs, from falling out of an open hatch, and bound up his wounds. MacDonald, who with du Pre would be recommended for an immediate gallantry award, finally got his badly shot-up aircraft back to base, although the Maryland was a complete write-off ... Although four Marylands had been shot down and a fifth significantly damaged, the only claims submitted by JG 27 were for three bombers destroyed by Lt Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt; as so often, despite the SAAF crews' claims, none of the BF 109s were lost or badly damaged. Lt Michael MacDonald was subsequently awarded a DFC but du Pre remained undecorated Cheers Mark
Wow! Thank you so much for all this information Owen and Orwell1984. I didn't think I would get so much information. Makes me real proud of my Great Uncle Brian Garden. Thank you once again.
Just a quick question. I see there were 4 crew members KIA. I have noticed that the 'Martin Marylands' only held 3 crew. Would anyone no why this would be - by chance? Thank you Linds
Hi Linds Marylands are listed on different sites and in different references as having either 3 or 4 crew. Martin Maryland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia lists three Martin MARYLAND lists 4. The Maryland had two defensive gun positions, a dorsal and a ventral position and bomber units typically manned both of these. Looking through the losses of Marylands in the Gunby book, all the bomber Marylands lost had 4 crew: a pilot, an observer, a wireless operator/air gunner and an air gunner. Hope this clarifies things a bit Mark
GARDEN, B.A Brian Alexander 27, Lieutenant # 47927; 21 SAAF Sqn KIA 20.11.1941 Alamein Memorial, Egypt Column 245 Son of Alexander S. and Hilda A. GARDEN Maryland Mk.II SAAF # 1620 / ex-RAF # AH-305 Shot down south of El Adem by Bf-1091620 took off from LG.76 at 11:30 Crew: Lt. E.S CORBETT 47580V * SAAF 31 † KIA, Libya Alamein Memorial, Egypt Lt. B.A GARDEN 47927V * SAAF 27 † KIA, Libya Alamein Memorial, Egypt A/Sgt. G.N JAMES 102476V * SAAF 21 † KIA, Libya Alamein Memorial, Egypt A/Sgt. R.G BLACK 102508V * SAAF 31 † KIA, Libya Alamein Memorial, Egypt