Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 256
Two aircraft were covering the Napoli-Pisa area and two the Florence-Pisa area independently. Squadron Leader Gale was presumably hit by anti-aircraft fire. The incident occurred at 0635 hours. Spitfire MK267 was seen from 2,000 feet by his No 2 Flight Sergeant Godfrey Massey Ball (404227) about 300 feet above the ground and pouring white smoke. Flight Sergeant Ball then lost sight of the aircraft momentarily while he was doing a tight turn. A few seconds after Ball saw fire on the ground, which he considered almost certainly to be an aircraft burning. Ball circled taking camera gun shots for about 8 seconds. These however were not successful. Ball was then forced to withdraw as the anti-aircraft fire was intense and accurate.
Two aircraft were covering the Napoli-Pisa area and two the Florence-Pisa area independently. Squadron Leader Gale was presumably hit by anti-aircraft fire. The incident occurred at 0635 hours. Spitfire MK267 was seen from 2,000 feet by his No 2 Flight Sergeant Godfrey Massey Ball (404227) about 300 feet above the ground and pouring white smoke. Flight Sergeant Ball then lost sight of the aircraft momentarily while he was doing a tight turn. A few seconds after Ball saw fire on the ground, which he considered almost certainly to be an aircraft burning. Ball circled taking camera gun shots for about 8 seconds. These however were not successful. Ball was then forced to withdraw as the anti-aircraft fire was intense and accurate.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 256
Two aircraft were covering the Napoli-Pisa area and two the Florence-Pisa area independently. Squadron Leader Gale was presumably hit by anti-aircraft fire. The incident occurred at 0635 hours. Spitfire MK267 was seen from 2,000 feet by his No 2 Flight Sergeant Godfrey Massey Ball (404227) about 300 feet above the ground and pouring white smoke. Flight Sergeant Ball then lost sight of the aircraft momentarily while he was doing a tight turn. A few seconds after Ball saw fire on the ground, which he considered almost certainly to be an aircraft burning. Ball circled taking camera gun shots for about 8 seconds. These however were not successful. Ball was then forced to withdraw as the anti-aircraft fire was intense and accurate.
Two aircraft were covering the Napoli-Pisa area and two the Florence-Pisa area independently. Squadron Leader Gale was presumably hit by anti-aircraft fire. The incident occurred at 0635 hours. Spitfire MK267 was seen from 2,000 feet by his No 2 Flight Sergeant Godfrey Massey Ball (404227) about 300 feet above the ground and pouring white smoke. Flight Sergeant Ball then lost sight of the aircraft momentarily while he was doing a tight turn. A few seconds after Ball saw fire on the ground, which he considered almost certainly to be an aircraft burning. Ball circled taking camera gun shots for about 8 seconds. These however were not successful. Ball was then forced to withdraw as the anti-aircraft fire was intense and accurate.
Gravesite Details
Squadron Leader, No 451 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force. Age: 24.
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