MAYALL, John Milburn
| Service Number: | 400150 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 June 1940, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 126 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Geelong, Vic., 27 January 1920 |
| Home Town: | Red Cliffs, Mildura Shire, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Mildura High School |
| Occupation: | Banker - Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd. Red Cliffs |
| Died: | Accidental, Malta, 10 March 1942, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll. grave 92. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mildura High School WW2 Honour Roll, Nar Nar Goon Commercial Bank of Australia Limited WW2 Roll of Honour, Narromine Aviation Museum Memorial Wall |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 400150 | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 400150, No. 126 Squadron (RAAF), Melbourne, Vic. |
Account Of Death
The following is an account of the death of Pilot Officer John Milburn Mayall during a dogfight over Malta on the 10th of March 1942.
10/03/42 10.20 hours – seven Spitfires from 249 Squadron plus eight Hurricanes of 126 Squadron and four Hurricanes from Hal Far scrambled to intercept inbound raid.
PO John Mayall flying a Hurricane Mark IIA, was attacked and shot down by Bf 109F-4 flown by Feldwebel Hans Schade of 8./JG 53. Mayall’s Hurricane, Z2819, crashed about 10.50 hours, 300 yards West of the Elementary School at Attard, Malta. The pilot was killed and the aircraft burned out being a total write-off. (Schade is shot down on 1 April 1942, crashing into the sea).
Australian pilot Tim Goldsmith watched the combat overheard
“Jack Mayall, another Australian, was dog-fighting with two Messerschmitts at 10,000 feet over Takali, when a third 109 slid down out of the sun, fired a long burst of cannon and Jack and his Hurricane came screaming down like a bomb and crashed near the outskirts of Hamrun. I saw him go in a terrific flash and flame'”.
PO Kenric Murray, was shot down later that day about 17.10 hours. He baled out but was too low. He died from his injuries in Hospital later that day. Both pilots knew each other as they had previously trained together in Ontario Canada before posting to the UK.
Submitted 28 October 2024 by Anthony Mayall
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
John was 22 years of age and the son of John Ernest and Janet Mayall, of Red Cliffs, Victoria, Australia. He enjoyced Football, Cricket and Swimming.
He was the pilot of a Hurricane aircraft which crashed in the vicinity of Malta at 3.50am on the 10th March, 1942. The aircraft crashed as a result of enemy action.
He shares the grave with Sergeant HENRY NORMAN WALKER, Service Number 400312, Royal Australian Air Force who died 08/03/1942, aged 23.
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