Edward Mortimer-Rose | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1920 Littleport, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
| Died | 28 January 1943 (aged 22–23) |
| Buried | Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1943 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 111 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
|
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar |
Edward Mortimer-Rose, DFC & Bar (1920 – 28 January 1943) was a flying ace who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. During his service with the RAF, he was credited with having destroyed at least thirteen German aircraft.
Early life edit
Edward Mortimer-Rose was born in 1920 at Littleport in Cambridgeshire, the United Kingdom. He went to school at Haileybury. In February 1939, he joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission. He commenced flight training and this was completed in November, by which time the Second World War had broken out.[1][2]
Second World War edit
Mortimer-Rose was posted to No. 234 Squadron.
Battle of Britain edit
He was mentioned in despatches in March 1941.[3]
In June, Mortimer-Rose was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The published citation read:
his officer has displayed great skill as a fighter pilot. In a recent combat he destroyed two of five enemy aircraft destroyed by his flight thus bringing his victories to at least six. He has set a splendid example and has contributed materially to the high standard of efficiency in his squadron.
— London Gazette, No. 35183, 6 June 1941[4]
Siege of Malta edit
In November Mortimer-Rose was posted to the Middle East and soon after his arrival in Egypt, was sent to Malta to assume command of No. 249 Squadron.[2] A few days after his arrival on Malta on 6 December, he was awarded a Bar to his DFC. The published citation read:
This officer is a relentless and inspiring fighter pilot. He has participated in every operational sortie undertaken by his squadron and, many times, has carried out individual attacks in enemy occupied country with great success. Flight Lieutenant Mortimer-Rose has destroyed at least 7 and damaged a further 9 enemy aircraft.
— London Gazette, No. 35378, 12 December 1941[5]
He made his first claim with his new unit on 19 December, when he destroyed a Ju 88 over Malta. He shared in the destruction of another Ju 88 on 24 December. The day after Christmas, he was wounded in an engagement and crash landed his Hurricane on the airstrip at Luqa. His wounds, to his feet, required hospitalisation and it was not until late February 1942 that he returned to duty. This was as commander of No. 185 Squadron, another Hurricane-equipped unit on Malta. He destroyed a pair of Bf 110s over the island on 21 March and this was followed two days later with shares in three damaged Ju 88s. The next day he was injured when the airfield at Hal Far was bombed. In May he was taken off operations.[1][2]
In January 1943, Mortimer-Rose, having reverted to his substantive rank of flight lieutenant, was posted to No. 111 Squadron as one of its flight commanders. The squadron was serving in the Tunisian campaign at the time of his arrival. On 28 January he was involved in a collision with another Spitfire when taking off from Souk-el-Khemis Airfield. While the other pilot, Wing Commander George Gilroy, was slightly injured and successfully bailed out, Mortimer-Rose, was killed.
His remains were interred at the Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery in Tunisia.[6] He is credited with the destruction of at least thirteen aircraft, four of which shared with other pilots. He is also credited with three aircraft probably destroyed, and shares in a further two probables. Additionally, he damaged eleven aircraft although six of these were shared.[7]
Notes edit
- ^ a b "The Airmen's Stories – P/O E B Mortimer-Rose". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Shores & Williams 1994, p. 453.
- ^ "No. 35107". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 1941. p. 1575.
- ^ "No. 35183". The London Gazette. 6 June 1941. p. 3228.
- ^ "No. 35378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 December 1941. p. 7052.
- ^ "Casualty Record: Flight Lieutenant Edward Brian Mortimer-Rose". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Shores & Williams 1994, pp. 435–436.
References edit
- Price, Alfred (1988) [1979]. Battle of Britain: The Hardest Day, 18 August. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-831-1.
- Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
- Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6.