Keith Truscott

Truscott joined No. 452 Squadron flying a RAF Supermarine Spitfire in England on 5 May 1941.[1] Truscott formed a strong and binding friendship with another fighter ace, Wing Commander Paddy Finucane. They formed, according to Ivan Southall, the toughest, ice-cold fighter partnership in the RAF, contributing to what was the highest scoring unit in Fighter Command.[19] By this stage Truscott was, along with Clive Caldwell, one of the most famous RAAF pilots. While in England, his fame was such that he was used as fundraising icon, with the Marquess of Donegall exhorting his countrymen with red hair to donate money to buy a Spitfire in which Truscott, who was nicknamed "Bluey" because of his red hair, would fly.[20][21]

In 1941, after destroying several Messerschmitts, Truscott's Spitfire had its tail shot off and fuel tanks ruptured. Returning to base, the Spitfire eventually ran out of fuel over the English Channel. Truscott attempted to bale at 4,000 feet but was caught in his cockpit; he broke free only 400 feet above the sea with his chute opening moments before he hit the water.[22]

The ethics of attacks on parachutists was strongly debated during the war.[23] In October 1941, Truscott destroyed two Messerschmitts over occupied France during a series of engagement and one of those pilots managed to bale out. Truscott then shot at the parachutist as he descended. On the squadron's return to RAF Kenley, Truscott's close friend and crew member Clive 'Bardie' Wawn DFC called him "a bastard, [for] shooting at that Jerry". Truscott's reply to Wawn was pragmatic: "He might have gone up tomorrow and shot you down". Truscott had earlier seen a German pilot shooting at a parachuting RAF pilot and vowed to return the favour.[24]

Truscott destroyed at least 16 Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s, was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (invested to him by King George VI),[25] and was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader in January 1942.[1] Citations for Truscott's DFCs refer to "great courage and determination" and that he had shown "fine fighting spirit; destroyed 11, probable destroyed 3, damaged 2 hostile aircraft, attacked and damaged a Destroyer (during the Channel Dash) as well as a German Heinkel He 114."[26] The destroyer Truscott attacked was most likely the Z7 Hermann Schoemann which was the only destroyer that reported being strafed by 20mm aerial cannon fire on the day of Truscott's attack.[27] It is believed that this sortie was the first time a fighter squadron had attacked and damaged a warship without assistance.[28]

One of Truscott's more unusual sorties was "Leg Operation", which involved his Squadron escorting a Bristol Blenheim to parachute a prosthetic leg into a Saint-Omer hospital where the captured Douglas Bader was being held by the Germans. Bader had lost both legs in 1931 after crashing his plane in an air-show. However, as a fighter ace with some 22 aerial victories he was well regarded by the Germans, who with the consent of Hermann Göring, agreed to Bader's request to allow the English to parachute in a replacement leg.[29]

Truscott, Squadron Leader No. 76 Squadron RAAF at Milne Bay, New Guinea in September 1942.

Truscott was promoted to Commanding Officer in June 1942 before being posted back to the RAAF in Australia after the Bombing of Darwin, and he joined No. 76 Squadron, flying Kittyhawks.[1]

It was RAAF policy that all pilots returning from campaigns abroad must relinquish their ranks.[30]  However, political interference saw Truscott retain his rank (and pay) upon his posting to No.76 Squadron. That placed Truscott in what his Commanding Officer wrote was "an invidious position", and the matter was formally escalated with Group Command.[31] The loss of Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull inadvertently resolved the matter as Truscott was promoted as Turnbull's replacement in January 1943.[32] However, the Minister for Air was publicly forced to review the policy, resulting in a landmark case that saw all pilots able to retain their original ranks.[33]

Truscott's squadron was posted to Gurney Field in Milne Bay, Papua, and played what was described as "the decisive factor" in winning the Battle of Milne Bay.[1] During the battle, Nos. 75 and 76 Squadrons fired 196,000 rounds and wore out 300 gun barrels against ground targets, raking the palm trees at low-levels for snipers.[34] With Japanese troops less than five kilometres from the air-strip, Truscott's pilots were ordered to evacuate to Port Moresby to protect their assets. However, Truscott refused his orders, mindful of how his Ground Crew would feel being left behind after all officers had evacuated.[35] Truscott was subsequently Mentioned in Dispatches for his distinguished service in the battle.[36][37] An official report notes that Truscott was "literally adored by the Pilots and Ground Crew. His devil-may-care swagger, fiery red mop of hair on which a Melbourne Cricket Club cap was usually perched, and infectious smile just couldn't fail to inspire confidence in others."[38]

No. 76 Squadron was later transferred to Darwin, Northern Territory, and the RAAF journal Wings stated that when out-climbed by Japanese Zeros in early night dog-fights, Truscott would turn on the navigation lights of his Kittyhawk to attract Japanese fire, giving him a chance to shoot back.[39] One night in January 1943, Truscott intercepted three bombers head-on over Darwin and, with just one gun operating effectively, shot down a Betty Mitsubishi G4M.[40]

Truscott was killed on 28 March 1943, during a RAAF training exercise with the US Navy off Exmouth, Western Australia.[41] It had earlier been agreed that the RAAF would launch surprise feint attacks on any US Catalinas they came across along the coast.  At Truscott's request, the US agreed to keep their Catalinas well off the water during the exercise.[42] Two days later, Truscott and his wingman, Pilot Officer Ian Loudon (later promoted to Squadron Leader, and awarded the DFC),[43] sighted PBY Catalina 101-P-1 from Fleet Air Wing 10 in the distance. The conditions of the day were highly unusual: the water was mirror-like creating a false horizon. The Australian echelon prepared for a beam attack at what Loudon thought was a height well over 200 feet (60 m). Due to the weather conditions and distance from the Catalina, Loudon and Truscott were not able to discern that the Catalina was actually in a slow descent preparing to land on the water. With the sun shining in their eyes, it was not until 800 yards (730 m) prior to contact that Loudon realised their true altitude. Loudon radioed Truscott but it was too late; Truscott's P40E Kittyhawk clipped the water at a flat angle, he immediately pulled-up the aircraft but it stalled at 200 feet (60 m) and fell into the sea, killing Truscott instantly.[44] His body was recovered and he was buried with military honours at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.[41][45]