I got chatting to a couple of chaps at Duxford on Sunday, they are trying to trace a Fighter Pilot with the surname of Burke who was awarded the DFC. This pilot was at some point stationed in Malta during WW2, attained the rank of Wing Co, was awarded the DFC and lives in South Africa.
The only one that I can find that fits the bill is H P Launder-Burke DFC who flew with 126 Sqn, however he died in 1970 and the chaps that I was speaking to, met this Burke fellow in Malta two years ago. Launder-Burke incidentally flew TFC’s MkIX with 222Sqn
These guys were themselves Malta veterans, but thought if anyone should be present this Burke fellow should in Malta next year.
Can anyone help or got any ideas?
By: EN830 - 12th May 2004 at 12:30
You may be right, but they have clear recollections that this chap “Burke” that they met in Malta two years ago had flown and fought in Malta and had been awarded the DFC himself.
I meant OFMC and not TFC, all I can say is that is was early when I wrote this morning
By: Mark12 - 12th May 2004 at 09:26
EN830
I wonder if they could they possibly have been talking to the son of Wing Commander Henry ‘Pat’ Lardner-Burke – a Malta veteran with seven ‘kills’ and ‘damaged’ MC200s.
MH434 became his personal machine with 222 Sqd. (and still with OFMC on my last count).
Pat Lardner-Burke went on to command 1 Squadron RAF. His personal machine here was Spitfire ML119 another survivor.
Mark
P.S. Pat L-B was born in South Africa.
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May 12, 2004 at 8:45 am