Flying Officer John Acheson Esler DFC (64903) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. Born on 5th February 1915, he was the son of Logan Esler and Margaret Esler of Ballymena, Co. Antrim. John had a twin sister, Ann McCurdy Esler.
He died on 17th May 1942 aged 27 years old while serving as a Pilot with RAF 86 Squadron based at RAF Sumburgh, Shetland. His crew took off in the Mark II Bristol Beaufort AW367 BX-W along with others from the Squadron to attack the German Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Crews from RAF 42 Squadron accompanied them on the mission under the command of Wing Commander Mervyn Williams. A total of 19 Bristol Blenheim bombers and 27 Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers took part in the strike.
Prinz Eugen was off the coast of Egersund, Norway, returning to Germany after undergoing repairs. The Royal Air Force lost 4 Bristol Beaufighters in the attack. German ships and accompanying Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes shot down the Allied bombers. The German Cruiser made it safely back to Germany unscathed. Esler was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
At 2023hrs, Flight Sergeant Atkinson saw Beaufort BX-W, flown by Pilot Officer Esler, get shot to pieces by a Bf 109, and crash into the sea with its left engine in flames.
Remembering the crew of Beaufort AW367
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackerman | William Edwin | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | RAFVR 759094. Killed. |
| Esler | John Acheson | Flying Officer | Pilot | RAFVR 64903. Killed. Distinguished Flying Cross. |
| Linford | Robert Alec | Flight Sergeant | Observer | RAFVR 962176. Killed. |
| McDevitt | Edward Patrick | Pilot Officer | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | RAFVR 122551. Killed. |
John Acheson Esler’s grave is in Row C, Grave 4 of Mollendal Church Cemetery, Bergen, Norway. His headstone bears the inscription:
Staunch to the end against odds uncounted, they fell with their faces to the foe.