F/Sgt S Da Costa

[VictorGolf]

A friend in the village has passed a box of items to me, referring to her great-uncle, F/Sgt S Da Costa. He trained as a "Radio Observer" and flew 873 hours between 1942 and 1945, mainly on Beaufighters and Mosquitos, and survived the war. His logbooks are fascinating and include shooting down 2 Ju88s and 6 V-1s. However there are a pair of Fligh Lieutenants "shoulder bars" iamongst the items in the box but no mention in his notes of any promotions during his service. However he did fly with a F/Lt Wolton from late 1943 onwards so perhaps they could have been a souvenir from him. I would be grateful if anybody to could shed any light on whether he did in fact get promoted or not.

[radar101]

See Incident de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II W4093, (aviation-safety.net) (https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/240273) Sgt Samuel da Costa?

[radar101]

If this is our man then the London Gazette gives:

wef 25 Sep 42 FSgt Samuel Da Costa 932716 -> 136049 RAFVR A Plt Off

wef 25 Mar 43 A Plt off to Plt Off (prob)

wef 13 Oct 44 Fg Off to Flt Lt War Substantive S Da Costa 136049 which justifies the shoulder bars.

[sycamore]

In April `84 ,I flew with F/Lt, `Fred`? da Costa on a CFS `Standardisation `trip in a Jetstream at RAF Finningley..
Possibility of being a later relative....?

[ancientaviator62]

I flew with F/L 'Fred Da Costa when on Hastings at Colerne. This would have been about 1966.

[ancientaviator62]

Just checked my log book and I flew with a F/O da Costa in Hastings 477 on January 1967 This was on 36 Sqn.

[VictorGolf]

Thanks all. Yes indeed it was our man in the ASN accident report mentioned by "radar101".His rather laconic logbook note says "weapon bent" presumably referring to his AI equipment or maybe the Mosquito itself. Good to know he got his promotion. I'll check with my contact to see if Fred was a relative. Always impressed by the depth of knowledge of the pprune historians, many thanks..

[DHfan]

I have a feeling I've read the term "weapon bent" some time in the dim and distant past in regard to failed AI equipment.

[radar101]

Found a couple of old Air Force Lists (Museum of Scotland)

He is listed under Navigators in the 1944 and 1945 books but seniority etc confirms the Gazette dates

[ancientaviator62]

IIRC I remember 'Fred' telling me that the name 'Da Costa was of Portuguese origin.