Date

Location

Force

Aircraft

From-To

Crew

18-02-1943

Troia Beach, Setúbal

RAF     44Group

Bristol Beaufort I    DW898

Portreath (GB) → Gibraltar → Middle East

Sgt      Bernard M´Kenna              Irl

Sgt      Anthony Oscar Corble        Irl

F/Sgt  Raymond Roberts               GB

Sgt      Philip Hulme Douglas         GB

One of the engines stopped and the crew had to land in Tóia, Naer Setúbal, where they burned the aircraft.

After the landing they were approached by a farmer who took them home and gave them a meal. After that they were taken to a place named Comporta where a British landowner lived. They stayed there for two days before following to Setúbal with portuguese officer's. On the next day they went to Lisbon where they stayed for two more days, leaving afterwards to Elvas where tehy spent the rest of the internment.

They returned to GB in April 17.

Douglas went missing in combat on June 11, 1944 flying with the 58 Squadron. He is remembered in the Runnymede Memorial.

Resources:
*  “Aviões da Cruz de Cristo” – Mário Canongia Lopes
* Evade & Escape Report - National Archives -  London Kew
* Portreath ORB - National Archives - London Kew
*"The Bristol Blenheim" - Graham Warner
* Commonwealth War Graves Comission - site CWGC