| Accession Number | P09781.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Digital file |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 424778 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Charles Joseph Merryfull (later MBE) RAAF. A ...
Description
Studio portrait of 424778 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Charles Joseph Merryfull (later MBE) RAAF. A member of 199 Squadron RAF, he was responsible for the design of the window foil launching machine which was used to automatically dispense packets of window strips. This machine was used operationally from 1945 as a countermeasure against German radar. On 8 July 1945 Sqn Ldr Merryfull died whilst testing an automatic window launcher at RAF Docking Airfield. Whilst in flight the Mosquito (PZ 178) crewed by Sqn Ldr Merryfull and Leading Aircraftman F Grady RAF suffered structural failure, breaking up mid-air. At 1018 hours it crashed into the airfield, killing its two crew. Sqn Ldr Merryfull was buried in the Cambridge Regional Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, UK, and was posthumously awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire.