Using the forum on www.rafcommands.com further
information was obtained regarding the mission flown 04-07-1944 and the Spitfire flown on
that day.
Information source:- COL BRUGGY
"Really not much more on the loss in Brian
Cull's, 249 At War/Grub Street/London/1997/pp.181-2 (see also pp.265 and
282).
"On 4 July (1944), Sgt Penny was lost in the area of Pholarina in northern Greece,
east of Lake Prespansko, when flying as Red 4 to Sgt Oustan, who had to
return early because of difficulty with his overload tank. Over the
target area, the remaining three aircraft were subjected to small-arms
fire, both Flg Off Humphrey's and that of Plt Off Nichols sustaining
damage. Penny was heard by Nichols to acknowledge his message that his
aircraft (LZ873) [sic], had been hit, but nothing further was seen or
heard of him; it was assumed that he too had been hit by ground fire
and subsequently crashed. On his return to base, Humphrey was found
to have had a remarkable escape. A bullet had passed into his cockpit
and gone through the elbow of one of his sleeves, had then struck
against the armoured back of the seat, from which it ricocheted to pass
through the elbow of the sleeve of his other arm and then out through
the other side of the cockpit.""
Information Source :- Zoran Petek
I can confirm
that Spitfire LZ873 flew with RAAF, and LZ875 flew from Italy. Listed with 253 Sqn (I can not confirm),
126 Sqn (TD-N, late 43-spring 44),
and 249 Sqn (early summer 44). During that time 249 Sqn flew from Grottaglie,
Foggia and Vis island.
