Adrian Warburton DSO & Bar, DFC & 2 Bars, DFC (USA)
- Extended Description
- Adrian Warburton (known as Warby) was one of the most highly decorated pilots of WW2
A below-average pilot with 22 Sqn, he was sent to Malta to avoid trouble in the UK. Warby later became CO of first 69 Sqn and then 683 Photo Recce Sqn. Fearless in the air, the maverick Warby, shot down nine aircraft and won fame in Malta for his invaluable Photo Reconnaissance work at Taranto, Sicily and North Africa.
On this return to the Europe, Warby departed on 12th April 1944 in a USAAF P38(F4 Photo Recce) aircraft on an unusual mission. Both the plane and the pilot disappeared without trace.
On the 19th August 2002, excavation start at Egling near Dunzelbach, were reports had stated that an American P38 had crashed on the 12th April 1944. Some human remains were found and after checking the unearthed engine serial numbers with the authorises in the USA. It was confirmed that the remains were that of Warby.
On the 14th May 2003 Wing Commander Adrian Warburton DSO & Bar, DFC & 2 Bars, DFC (USA) was given a full military funeral at St Agidius Church, Gmund and laid to rest at the War Cemetery at Durnbach.
