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Joseph David Potter   RAF Badge    SAAF

Surname Potter  
Forename/s Joseph David  
Rank Sergeant  
Service Number 1591529  
DOB Circa 1925  
Address    
Date & place of death/details 13/9/1944 age 19.
His aircraft went missing whilst on convoy escort duty.		  
Regiment & Unit Royal Air Force Volunteer, 27 Squadron South Africa Air Force.
Wireless operator.		  
Service details Mediterranean (Egypt, North Africa & Malta)  
Military Awards?    
Married?               Children?    
Any photographs? Yes - Derbyshire Times.  
Derbyshire Times Obituary Joseph Potter 29/9/1944  
Parents names Mr James William & Mrs Sarah Hannah Potter. Joseph had a sister called Ivy and a brother Leslie.  
Parents address 1, Ward Street, New Tupton  
Grave location or   memoria location No grave, Malta Memorial, Panel 15 Column 2  
Living relatives?    
Any other information? Pre war occupation was working for W. Britt & Sons, Ironmongers, Chesterfield.
Before joining the RAF he was also a member of the Clay Cross Air Training Corps, holding the rank of Flight Sergeant.

Joseph enlisted in the RAF in April 1943 and Commonwealth War Graves state he was in 27 Squadron.

However according to an RAF memorial website. Joseph was serving with the 27 Squadron South African Air Force (SAAF) when he died. This is borne out by the fact that 27 Squadron RAF were serving in the Far East from 1942 -45, whereas 27 Squadron SAAF were operating from Malta in 1944 and this is where Joseph’s memorial is. I have also been informed that it was very common for RAF navigators and wireless operators to operate on secondment with squadrons from other Countries.

Joseph’s obituary also states that he had served in Egypt, North Africa and Malta. In July 1944, 27 Squadron SAAF were based in Algeria, North Africa flying anti-submarine patrols in their Lockheed Ventura V aircraft. Records also show that 27 Squadron SAAF sent a detachment to operate from Malta for a 2-month period in 1944. It would appear that Joseph was part of this Group.

What is known is that on the 13th September 1944, Joseph’s Ventura V aircraft JS935 ‘A’, set out from Hal Far airfield, Malta on a convoy escort flight, with Joseph being the wireless operator in a crew of 5. This plane failed to return and was declared lost with the crew ‘missing in action’. Joseph was 19 years old.

Having no grave Joseph is remembered on the Malta Memorial, Panel 15, Column 2. This memorial is dedicated to the 2,298 Commonwealth Aircrew who died in WW2 operating from Malta and have no known grave.

Ventura