Warrant Officer Rhubert Mellor Austin..........Service: Royal Australian Air Force..........Service Number: 405169
Centrefold of The Harasser - Issue 13 - November 2009
Official Newsletter of the Desert Harassers
Sicily
3 August 1943
Operations over Mt Etna proved to be fatal when, on the 3rd day of August, although there had been “No enemy aircraft sighted all day, Aus. 405169 F/Sgt AUSTIN R.M. failed to return from the last operation. His aircraft (FR251) was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target. He was posted as missing”.
Extract from the Details of Sortie for No. 4 operation 3 August 1943 – Operations Log Book – 450 Squadron:
“4 F/B a/c led by F/O Gregory, strafing roads N and W of Mt Etna. Airborne 1844 to 1938. Flew out at 8’000’. Bombs dropped just N. of Bronte. At C.9318, observed 6 MET moving W. These were strafed, resulting in 1 truck being damaged and 1 machine gun post silenced. At C.8620, 3 MET, stationary, also strafed. One truck blown up (believed ammo). Smokeless fire seen at C.9718, another at C.8219. Intense small arms and Breda from target areas and from roads in Sq.D.01. Visibility hazy. One a/c (FR 251) is missing.”
During his tour of duty with the 450 Squadron Rhubert flew a total of 39 sorties / 62.15 operational hours under the command of S/Ldr J.P. Bartle DSO, MID.
Rhubert’s Flying Log Book, was summarised by the Officer Commanding “A’ Flight on 30 Oct 1943 with a Grand total of 343hrs and 40 mins flying time.
Official Newsletter of the Desert Harassers
Sicily
3 August 1943
Operations over Mt Etna proved to be fatal when, on the 3rd day of August, although there had been “No enemy aircraft sighted all day, Aus. 405169 F/Sgt AUSTIN R.M. failed to return from the last operation. His aircraft (FR251) was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target. He was posted as missing”.
Extract from the Details of Sortie for No. 4 operation 3 August 1943 – Operations Log Book – 450 Squadron:
“4 F/B a/c led by F/O Gregory, strafing roads N and W of Mt Etna. Airborne 1844 to 1938. Flew out at 8’000’. Bombs dropped just N. of Bronte. At C.9318, observed 6 MET moving W. These were strafed, resulting in 1 truck being damaged and 1 machine gun post silenced. At C.8620, 3 MET, stationary, also strafed. One truck blown up (believed ammo). Smokeless fire seen at C.9718, another at C.8219. Intense small arms and Breda from target areas and from roads in Sq.D.01. Visibility hazy. One a/c (FR 251) is missing.”
During his tour of duty with the 450 Squadron Rhubert flew a total of 39 sorties / 62.15 operational hours under the command of S/Ldr J.P. Bartle DSO, MID.
Rhubert’s Flying Log Book, was summarised by the Officer Commanding “A’ Flight on 30 Oct 1943 with a Grand total of 343hrs and 40 mins flying time.
Edit caption:
Centrefold of The Harasser - Issue 13 - November 2009
Official Newsletter of the Desert Harassers
Sicily
3 August 1943
Operations over Mt Etna proved to be fatal when, on the 3rd day of August, although there had been “No enemy aircraft sighted all day, Aus. 405169 F/Sgt AUSTIN R.M. failed to return from the last operation. His aircraft (FR251) was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target. He was posted as missing”.
Extract from the Details of Sortie for No. 4 operation 3 August 1943 – Operations Log Book – 450 Squadron:
“4 F/B a/c led by F/O Gregory, strafing roads N and W of Mt Etna. Airborne 1844 to 1938. Flew out at 8’000’. Bombs dropped just N. of Bronte. At C.9318, observed 6 MET moving W. These were strafed, resulting in 1 truck being damaged and 1 machine gun post silenced. At C.8620, 3 MET, stationary, also strafed. One truck blown up (believed ammo). Smokeless fire seen at C.9718, another at C.8219. Intense small arms and Breda from target areas and from roads in Sq.D.01. Visibility hazy. One a/c (FR 251) is missing.”
During his tour of duty with the 450 Squadron Rhubert flew a total of 39 sorties / 62.15 operational hours under the command of S/Ldr J.P. Bartle DSO, MID.
Rhubert’s Flying Log Book, was summarised by the Officer Commanding “A’ Flight on 30 Oct 1943 with a Grand total of 343hrs and 40 mins flying time.
Official Newsletter of the Desert Harassers
Sicily
3 August 1943
Operations over Mt Etna proved to be fatal when, on the 3rd day of August, although there had been “No enemy aircraft sighted all day, Aus. 405169 F/Sgt AUSTIN R.M. failed to return from the last operation. His aircraft (FR251) was hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target. He was posted as missing”.
Extract from the Details of Sortie for No. 4 operation 3 August 1943 – Operations Log Book – 450 Squadron:
“4 F/B a/c led by F/O Gregory, strafing roads N and W of Mt Etna. Airborne 1844 to 1938. Flew out at 8’000’. Bombs dropped just N. of Bronte. At C.9318, observed 6 MET moving W. These were strafed, resulting in 1 truck being damaged and 1 machine gun post silenced. At C.8620, 3 MET, stationary, also strafed. One truck blown up (believed ammo). Smokeless fire seen at C.9718, another at C.8219. Intense small arms and Breda from target areas and from roads in Sq.D.01. Visibility hazy. One a/c (FR 251) is missing.”
During his tour of duty with the 450 Squadron Rhubert flew a total of 39 sorties / 62.15 operational hours under the command of S/Ldr J.P. Bartle DSO, MID.
Rhubert’s Flying Log Book, was summarised by the Officer Commanding “A’ Flight on 30 Oct 1943 with a Grand total of 343hrs and 40 mins flying time.
Edit caption:
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