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"Crash" Curry & Percy Sewell
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CANADIANS TAKE PROMINENT PART
IN FIERCE TUNISIAN AIR FIGHTING
Parson's Son Finds Blasting Enemy Out of the Sky
Vastly Different From Insurance Statistics
An Airfield North of Gabes, Tunisia, April 20, 1943 — (CP Cable) — (Delayed) — Sgt. Michael Askey, of Winnipeg, a parson's son whose peacetime excitement went little beyond insurance statistics, shot down three enemy aircraft in today's fierce air combats over Tunisia.
Others Get Enemy
As the 20-year-old R.C.A.F. fighter pilot's score became known, news was received that two other Canadians were credited with two enemy planes destroyed and one probably destroyed in earlier air battles.
Askey, son of Major William Askey, Canadian army chaplain, got the first of today's triple off Cape Bon, a Macchi-202. He fired one burst and then saw the plane crash on a beach.
That kill came in the morning. In the afternoon, he attacked two Macchis off Pantelleria Island. The pilot of the first plane bailed out when Askey's bullets sprayed the cockpit and as the second turned for an attack, the Winnipegger scored hits on the enemy's wings and cockpit and saw the machine dive into the sea.
"I don't think the first pilot's chute opened," said Askey. "I never saw him after he jumped."
The kills brought Askey's score to four. His first victim was a Messerschmitt-109 last month.
Warrant Officer Fred Schofield, of Montreal, and F/O William R. P. Sewell, of Sewellville, N.B., were other successful Canadians.
Into Sea
Schofield participated in interception of an enemy bomber formation on the Gabes-Mahares road. An R.A.F. flight leader damaged a Dormer-217 before turning away to deal with a fighter and Schofield finished off the bomber.
"I went for the Dornier as it dived away and got in a burst at short range," said Schofield. "At 4,000 feet it burst into flames and went into the sea."
Sewell, flying in the same squadron, was about to attack a Junkers 88 when he saw a fighter escort about to pounce on a fellow pilot. Sewell got in a long burst and it was billowing black smoke and bits of fuselage were flying off it when the Canadian was forced to turn away to ward off another pilot coming in to attack.
"Just then," he said, "a third 109 came dead in front and I gave it a short squirt from 50 yards. The aircraft burst into flames and blew up."
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Born in 14 May 1921 in Sewellville, N.B.
Son of Joseph H.B. and Annie L. Sewell
of Sewellville, Gloucester Co., New Brunswick
Enlisted in Moncton on 12 September 1940
Winged on 15 July 1941 &
Commissioned the next day
Posted to the UK
With 601 Squadron in the desert & Malta
Then with 81 Squadron, Italy
KiFA 20 October 1943 over the Bari-Brindisi area
He is buried in the Bari War Cemetery
He was 22 years old |
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Air Casualties
Ottawa, Oct. 27, 1943 - (CP) - The R.C.A.F. reported tonight in its 717th casualty list of the war, containing 40 names, that 10 men have been killed on active service, two are missing on active service after air operations, one man has died from injuries suffered on active service and another has died from natural causes. Following is the latest list of casualties, with next of kin:
SEWELL, William Richard Percival, F/L, killed on active service overseas.
J. H. B. Sewell (father) Sewellville, New Brunswick.
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Victories Include :
9 May 1942
10 June 1942
12 June 1942
22 Aug. 1942
2 Sep. 1942
13 Mar. 1943
7 Apr. 1943
4 May 1943
12 July 1942 |
1/2 Ju 87
one MC202
one Me109
one Me109
one Me109
one MC202
one Me109
one Me109
1/2 Me109
one Ju87 |
damaged
destroyed
damaged
damaged
destroyed
probable
destroyed &
probable
destroyed
destroyed |
4.5 / 2 / 2.5
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