John Ockleford Heath

John Heath went to North Africa with the RAF in 1943.

He lost his life aboard Marauder UA440626 (See Extra Information)

14 Sqdn's ORB's entry for 26/6/1944 notes ' Lt Brumner was airborne at 10.52 from Alghero but failed to return. It was later ascertained from eye witnesses that the plane had crashed into the sea when returning to Base (capital in original) half a mile west of the island of Asinora off the north west tip of Sardinia. Five bodies, later identified as members of of Lt Brumner's crew, were recovered from the sea the same evening by Italian fishermen. No trace was found of the captain Lt Brumner.' (RAF Form 540, 14 Sqdn ORB, Summary of Events. TNA AIR27-195-11).

There were no survivors. Fatalities: The captain who was South African Lt Michiel Johan Wichardt Brumner, JOH Heath (W/Op), W/O Arnold Allsop (P), W/O Douglas Edwards (A/G), F/S Douglas Flack (N), David Martin (W/Op)

During World War Two, 14 Squadron operated in the Middle East and later Italy. On 17 August 1942, 14 Squadron was withdrawn from operations to convert to the Martin Marauder, the first RAF Squadron to operate this American bomber.

The squadron flew its first operational mission with the Marauder, a maritime reconnaissance mission on 26 October 1942. The squadron used its Marauders for long-range maritime reconnaissance missions, mine laying and anti-shipping attack with torpedoes over the Aegean.

In March 1943, it started performing anti-submarine missions and long-range maritime reconnaissance missions, finding targets to be attacked by other anti-shipping units, operating out of Blida and then Maison Blanche in Algeria. It operated detachments in Italy and Sardinia, moving completely to Alghero in Sardinia in June 1944.

Martin B-26 Marauder

The Martin B-26 Marauder was an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company.

First used in the Pacific Theater of World War II in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe.In total, 5,288 were produced between February 1941 and March 1945; 522 of these were flown by the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force.