Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Merrett, of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia.

R.A.A.F. Fighter Pilot Reported Missing
SERGT. Pilot John Graham Merrett [ John Graham Merrett ], R.A.A.F., Mosman, attached to a special R.A.F. fighter squadron, has been reported missing following air operations on September 27. Sergt.  Pilot Merrett, who is the elder son of Mr. J. Merrett [ Joseph Merrett ], Metropolitan Meat Industry Commissioner, joined the R.A.A.F. immediately on the outbreak of war. After his initial training  course at Bradfield, he completed his elementary flying course at Narromine. He left Australia with one of the first drafts in the Empire Air Training Scheme in 1940, and after obtaining his “wings” in  Canada, was drafted into a Spitfire squadron to complete his operational training. He was then attached to an operational fighter squadron engaged on convoy work in the North Sea, and when the  recent intensive fighter sweeps commenced across the Channel and northern France and Germany, he, with two other Australian pilots ‒ Sergt. Pilot John Rutherford, Orange, and Sergt. Pilot Falkiner,  Riverina ‒ was attached to the crack R.A.F. fighter squadron led by Squadron Leader Desmond Sheen, D.F.C., Canberra. This squadron, whose battle score at the beginning of this month exceeded 90  planes, has been conducting daily sweeps across the Channel and northern France. Sergt. Pilot Rutherford was recently shot down over the Channel by five M.E.’s 109, and, after baling out, swam two miles to the English shore.
In a letter received on Saturday last, the day on which he did not return to his base, Sergt. Pilot Merrett said that his squadron leader took him on a low-flying attack at high speed across the Channel,  shooting up ships, barges, wharves, docks, goods trains, oil depots, and any other military objectives, and then scooting book home. Sergt. Pilot Merrett was on the staff of the State Abattoir for the  past nine years. Mr. Merrett's other son, Bill (19), will go into an initial R.A.A.F. training school on October 11.
‒ from page of “The Farmer and Settler” (Sydney) of 2 October 1941.

RAAF PILOT’S BODY RECOVERED
SYDNEY, Monday.— Mr J. Merrett [ Jospeh Merrett ], Metropolitan Meat Industry Commissioner, has been informed that the body of his eldest son, Sgt.-Pilot John Graham Merrett [ John Graham Merrett ], RAAF, was recovered from the sea on October 23. The information came from the International Red Cross advice, quoting German sources. Sgt-Pilot Merrett was attached to a special Spitfire fighter  squadron of the RAF, and did not return from operational flights on September 27. It is assumed that he was shot down over the Channel, and that his body was picked up nearly a month later by the  Germans in occupied territory as the Air Ministry, London, confirms that his body was washed ashore.
‒ from page 5 of “The Argus” (Melbourne) of 2 December 1941.