S/Ldr 32061 Guy Lambton Menzies

RAF 32061, S/Ldr Guy Lambton Menzies

[photo credits | Wikipedia]

32061 S/Ldr Guy Lambton Menzies

[photo credits | The Sunderland flying-boat Queen, Vol. 1]

1939. The N9020 (TO-W) somewhere in the Mediterranean.

[photo credits | National Library of New Zealand]

Photograph of Guy Menzies and two other men standing beside his Avro Avian biplane “Southern Cross Junior” at an unidentified aerodrome (probably Wellington), taken in 1931 by Sydney Charles Smith.

[photo credits | © IWM CM 759]

Short Sunderland Mk Is of Nos. 228 and 230 Squadrons RAF moored in Messinia Bay off Kalamata while evacuating RAF personnel from Greece, 29 April 1941. RAF 228 Squadron T9048 (DQ-N) in foreground and L2160
(NM-X) RAF 230 Squadron in centre.

[photo credits | © IWM CM 759]

Friday, 1 November 1940

Mission Location Unit Aircraft	Recce Ionian Sea RAF 228 Sqn Sunderland MkI, s/n N9020 (TO-W)
Aircrew	Pilot. 32061 S/Ldr Guy Lambton Menzies – KiA 568257 Sgt Elias Dawes – KiA 40098 F/O Stuart Maxwell Farries – KiA 535135 L/A Ronald Fletcher – KiA 522295 L/A Leslie Charles Major Hale – KiA 563782 Sgt Frederick Harris – KiA 526309 L/A Benjamin Edwin Nicholas – KiA 543241 Sgt Edward Louis Setterfield – KiA 580074 Sgt George Arthur Stamp – KiA

Report

     The RAF was obliged to seek any information on the Italian naval activities, on the west of Greece. A strategic sea route, since the declaration of war on Greece, just a few days before.
     S/Ldr Menzies was ordered on October 31^st, for a reconnaissance patrol in the Ionian Sea. He took off at 06.12 hours from Kalafrana, Malta and as the result of air operation, he was reported missing with all men onboard.
     A Sunderland was claimed by Macchi MC.200’s belonged to 6 Gruppo C.T., 88 Squadriglia, near to Sicily. Pilots were Serg Mag Natalino Stabile and Ten Luigi Armanino.

[TNA]

Notes

Guy Lambton Menzies, flew the first solo flight, on the 3rd of January 1931, from Australia to New Zealand.

His brother also, F/O Ian Lambton Menzies, was killed in an crash. On 18 April 1941, in Australia. He was posted to RAAF 24 Squadron.

1941, April 19, Daily Telegraph: “I have given my two sons to the Empire”. Their mother stated.

Son of Dr. Guy Dixon Menzies, and of I. M. Menzies, of Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Marcia Ina Menzies, of Double Bay, Sydney, New South Wales.
He was 31 years of age.
ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Column 239.

[TNA]

Documentation

TNA, S.800/2/Air.

HEADQUARTERS
R.A.F. MEDITERRANEAN
VALLETTA, MALTA.

Reference: ‘S.800/2/Air.

8th December, 1940.

SECRET

SUNDERLAND BATTLE CASUALTIES – CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORTS.

Sir,
I have the honour to forward herewith circumstantial reports of the flying battle casualties to Sunderlands N.9020 and L.5806.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,

(signature)

Air Commodore,
Commanding R.A.F. Mediterranean.

The Under Secretary of State,
Air Ministry, Adastral House,
Kingsway, London.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL REPORT
FLYING BATTLE CASUALTY TO SUNDERLAND N.9020

1. Sunderland N.9020, Captain, Squadron Leader G.L. Menzies, was ordered to carry out a patrol in the Ionian Sea on 1st November, 1940. Certified truecopies of the following are attached:
(i) H.Q. Med Signal, Ops 941, 31/10 ordering the reconnaissance.
(ii) No. 228 Squadron Operation Order No.1. dated 31/10/40 detailing the aircraft.
(iii) Patrol diagram E 2 issued by H.Q. Med.

2. Sunderland N.9020 was airborne at 06.12 local time and failed to return. No signals were received from this aircraft.

3. It is known that certain enemy fighters were operating in certain areas of the Ionian Sea on that date as another Sunderland – L.5806- was attacked in the afternoon. No.228 Squadron Standing Orders (Operation), Section III, Part 2, lays down that Sunderlands are not to engaged in air combat, but are to take full avoiding action. Copy No’s 17 and 18 of these Orders were sent to H. Q. Med. On 10th October, 1940, under cover of my Form 247, and copy No.7 was issued to Squadron Leader Menzies.

Wing Commander – Commanding,
No. 228 Squadron, R.A.F.

26/11/40

TNA, Copy No……………….

No 228 SQUADRON OPERATION ORDER No 1 DATED 31/10/1940

Captain of Aircraft Q

You are to carry out patrol E2B on 1/11/40 taking off at 0600 hrs L.T.

Captain of Aircraft W

You are to carry out patrol E2A on 1/11/40 taking off at 0615hrs L.T.

Administrative

Flare path required at — L.T.
Power boat for crew at 0500 L.T.

Transport for Harse Scirocco consisting of — to pick up — at — L.T.

Rations for 5 Officers
13 Airmen.

(Sgd) G.L. Menzies, S/Ldr
Wing Commander-Commanding
No. 228 Squadron, R. A. F.

Distribution:-

Captain of Aircraft Q
Captain of Aircraft W
Operation Officer.

File.

TNA, AIR MINISTRY REFERENCE X 6430

To: Air Ministry repeat Records Ruislip
From: H.Q. R.A.F. M.E. BPO.

Received A.M.G.S. 1814 Hrs. 4/11/40

IMMEDIATE

KM316 4/11. F.B.

(A) Sunderland N9020 (B) 228 Squadron attached Kalafrana.

(C) 1/11. Time and place not known. (D) 32061 S/Ldr. G.L. Menzies. Missing. 40098 F/Off. S.M. Farries missing. 568257 T/Sgt. Dawes E. missing 543241 T/Sgt Setterfield E. missing. 580074 Sergt Stamp G.A. Missing. 535135 L.A.C. Cletcher R. missing. 526309 L.A.C. Nicholas B. missing. (G) Not repeat not known.

Time of origin: 1214 Hrs

Advance copy to: ZA
CRASH CIRCULATION (O)

TNA, (Dept. Q.J.)
December, 1940
P.355859/40/P.4.Cas.

[3 words deleted],

I am directed to refer to a letter from this Department dated the 6th November, 1940, and to your letter received on the 13th November, 1940, and to inform you that it is regretted that no further news has been received of [two words deleted], Squadron Leader Guy Lambton Menzies, since he was reported missing on the 1st November, 1940.

Enquiries are being made through the International Red Cross, and other neutral channels, and should any information be received it will immediately communicated to you.

I am to add an expression of the Department’s sincere sympathy with you in great anxiety.

I am, [one word deleted]
Your obedient Servant,

Name, Signature.

For Director of Personal Servives.

[Name and address deleted]

Antonelos Thanos for airwargreece.com | Updated: 06 March 2021
Sources: The National Archives (UK), Australian War Memorial, The Commonwealth War Graves, National library of New Zealand, Håkans aviation page, This day in aviation, The Sunderland Flying boat Queen, vol 1 (Evans John).

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