Roy
I have now found a report in the book, CLIPPED WINGS by Ian & Ralph Ormes.
February 6th 1941
The 6th was a busy day for the escorting aircraft - 43 in all took part in the watching of no less than thirteen convoys.
On the following day a search for the survivors of the Calafatis was laid on but bad weather prevented the mission. The Calafatis was on a voyage from Philadelphia for Glasgow with a cargo of steel, was sunk by German aircraft on February 4th. 18 died, 13 survived.
The record continues with routine searches by single aircraft from Stranraer but takes a more poignant turn when the search is for a missing Lerwick WQ-L, the aircraft Roy is in. The aircraft was believed to have gone missing in the Sound of Mull and apart from sister aircraft, a Sunderland from Oban joined in. On the 22nd the search intensified and spread to Minches, Firth of Clyde and Sound of Jura. Three Hudson's and a Whitley and a Stranraer (from Lough Erne) joined in. A tug had earlier reported a flare and hopes had risen. On the following day the search was resumed with square searches of the likely areas, again with no result. One Lerwick laid on for the task had to return after eight minutes with engine trouble, doubtless thankful not to have to be looked for in its turn.
WQ-L was finally presumed missing from its escort duty that started the 21st February, on which day nine convoys had been shepherded by a total of 29 aircraft.
Possible position of crash site 5340N 1240W
THE MISSING MEN FROM L7263 WQ-L
F/O Anderson Peter Thomas 84833 Age 25 Panel No 29 RAF Volunteer Reserve
Wing Commander Bainbridge John Edmond 05139 Age 35 Panel No 28 RAF
F/O Cragg Edmund Franklin 78670 Age ? Panel No 30 RAF Volunteer Reserve
CPL Davis William Charles 570228 Age 20 Panel No 55 RAF
FLT Sergeant Daniell Michael Charles 761087 Age 23 Panel No 74 RAF Volunteer Reserve
FLT Sergeant Dingle Ronald Leslie 754495 Age 26 Panel No 36 RAF Volunteer Reserve
P/O Fyfe Ronald John (Roy) 44549 Age 29 Panel No 32 RAF
Sergeant Lewis Thomas Owen 970474 Age 20 Panel No 47 RAF Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant McDonald Jame McIntosh 621572 Age ? Panel No 47 RAF
Leading Aircraftman McQuitty Albert Edwards 911664 Age 24 Panel No 56 RAF Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant Taylor Alan Robert 982555 Age ? Panel No 53 RAF Volunteer Reserve
Sergeant Tilley William Ernest 51647 Age ? Panel No 53 RAF
F/O Turner Richard Patrick 74697 Age 22 Panel No 30 RAF Volunteer Reserve
Unknown Man, at the moment (14th Man ? )
Felixstowe Museum, View Point road Felixstowe.
The museum has a display of some of Roy's possessions that my late father gifted to them.
Ian Fyfe kindly sent me this in October 2019
I have attached a scan of a piece that Roy wrote for the "Felixstowe Foghorn" in 1939. This looks like the inhouse rag for the MAEE. The writing on the cover is my Father's (Ken - Roy's brother).
