Bio / Text:
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Service No: 185550
George Thomas Young MELVILLE.
Dad arrived in Gibraltar Nov 27 1942 with 243 squadron. By January 4th 1943 his squadron was operating out of two airfields in Algeria: 'Bone' and 'Tingley'. before moving east to 'Euston' in Tunisia. Operational duties included escorting Hurricanes and other bombers, sweeping enemy ground positions and dog fights with ME 109s. One example occurred on February 27th: "Motorised convoy attacked. Very good results obtained. Nine tanks attacked of which three were destroyed." On April 13 a "Probable 109 shared with F/O Banner". By early June, 243 squadron had moved to Marsa in Malta in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. On July 9th 243 squadron undertook escort duties for the Invasion convoy as well as cover for the landing craft. During a patrol on July 13th, dad attacked and "Damaged a Machi 202". The Squadron's first Sicilian base was at Comiso (July 14th) before moving onto Pachino. Throughout the rest of July, August and into September, 243 were mainly tasked with providing fighter cover for Baltimores, Warhawks/Kittyhawks, Mitchells and Bostons (Havocs). On August 5th, whilst providing air cover for USAF Mitchells, dad observed one bomber being hit by flak and crashing into Mount Etna. On September 10th, a day after providing the "Longest cover ever given by Spitfires; 90 gallon tanks", dad "pranged on landing". He experienced a second pranging in early February 1945.
By September 13th 243 squadron flew from aerodromes on the Italian mainland and in early October were based in Naples, 'sweeping' the city itself as well as sorties over Salerno and Rome. On October 28th the squadron had "some fun with a few 190s over their own drome" (the German's airfield)! During this period the squadron experienced a number of losses, particularly from "heavy flak" whilst undertaking sorties over the Naples area as well as Vesuvius.
The beginning of June 1944 saw dad flying Spitfires VIII with 145 Squadron. Operational duties included bombing and strafing front lines, rail junctions, barges and bridges as well as providing cover for P.40s, Baltimores, Maruders, and Mustangs. By August the Squadron was operating out of various locations including Falconara, Ancona and Perugia.
Throughout the remaining months of 1944 and for the first four months of 1945, 145 Squadron's role was centred around ground support operations. Dad's last operational flight, prior to surrender, was on April 30th 1945.
From May through to August, 145 Squadron undertook various formation fly pasts, air tests and aerobatics in Treviso, Udine and Klagenfurt (Austria).
Dad's last posting was to 318 (Polish) squadron for the months of September and October 1945 prior to being demobbed.
