Date:	Tuesday 7 December 1943
Time:	17:25
Type:	Bristol Beaufighter TF Mk X
Owner/operator:	47 Sqn RAF
Registration:	LX898
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Aegean Sea of Targeia Island. Naxos -   Greece
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	ALG Gambut III/Satellite No. 2, Libya
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Beaufighter LX898/ W. Took off at 15:04 hrs for a shipping sweep north of Targeia Island. 07/12/1943.
47 Sqdn ORB states that F/O Nichol and his navigator W/O Ball arrived on the Squadron on 6 December 1943, and failed to return from an operation on the next day, 7 December.
Beaufighter LX898/ W. The 47 Sqn ORB Form 540 has:
Three Beaufighters led by S/Ldr. Filson-Young took off on a shipping sweep from Kos to Samos. Two E-boats were sighted and attack was made against intense accurate light flak. Strikes were observed on both the E-boats. Beaufighter “X” cannons would not fire, and it sustained hits in the port wing and fuselage. After the attack Beaufighter “W” crew by F/O Nichol/W/O Ball called up that [port] engine was hit and there was no oil pressure. S/Ldr. Filson-Young repeatedly endeavoured to regain contact with “W” on V.H.F., but nothing further was heard. Beaufighter “W” was last seen at 17:25 hrs, in failing light, just passing over Trageia [Tragea, Naxos].
Crew:
F/O (122.549) Denis NICHOL (pilot) RAFVR - POW
W/O (523274) Gerald BALL (nav.) RAF - POW

1.http://aviationarchaeology.gr/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Beaufighter-losses-in-Greece-1941-19464.pdf
2.Beaufighter production list
3 ORB 47 Sqdn RAF
5.A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945:

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
16-Jul-2019 08:55	Nepa	Added [Operator]
08-Sep-2022 12:22	Nepa	Updated [Source, Damage, Narrative, Operator]
01-Nov-2022 08:43	Nepa	Updated [Narrative, Operator]