Peter David DUFF. Lance Bombardier 1776266, Lance-Bombardier, 11th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, son of John and Annie Duff, and the husband of Ivy Gladys Duff, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. Died 6th March 1942 aged 32. At rest in Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta. P1/R4/G17
Thomas Patrick O'BRYAN. Gunner 822371 4th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery died 7th March 1942 aged 30. Husband of Sara O'Bryan, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. O HOLY CROSS UNDER THY SHADOW I WILL REST EVER REMEMBER BY HIS LOVING WIFE SARA. At rest in Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta. P1/R4/G17
Norman John KNIGHT. Sergeant 402077, 37th Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, son of John and Harriet May Knight, of Croydon, New South Wales, Australia. Died of his injuries in No 45 General Hospital, at St. Patrick’s Barracks, Pembroke on the 9th March 1942 aged 22 and the result of a two aircraft collision on take off at RAF Luqa. HE LEFT SWEET MEMORIES. At rest in Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta. P1/R4/G17.
Some notes from his Air Force Records . He enlisted aged 20 and 9 months on the 26th May 1940. He lived with his parents at 21 Etonville Parade Croddon New South Wales, occupation a clerk for a wool mill. He had previously served with the Militia for 2 years and 6 months. Discharges to join the RAAF, 46 days as an air cadet. After he had completed his training he embarked from Sydney on the 3rd February 1941 and disembarked Egypt on the 24th March 1941 where he was posted to RAF Heliopolis, then to RAF Shallufa near Suez port Egypt with 37 Squadron.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._37_Squadron_RAF The plane, Wellington I.C.Z 903 in which he was part of the crew was taxying down a flare path at RAF Luqa when another Wellington, D.V.483 also part of the same flight was almost airborne when it crashed into the taxying Wellington. On contact both planes burst into flames with mines and bombs the aircraft carried started to explode. Rescue work carried on in spite of difficulty. The loss of life , four killed at scene, three bodied recovered Sergeant Knight was rescued died of his injuries in hospital.
