Date: 15 May 1941
Unit: No. 274 Squadron R.A.F.
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mark I
Serial No: Unknown?
Coded: (Squadron's unofficial insignia carried, yellow lightning flash through roundel)
Location: Halfaya, Egypt.
Pilot: F/Sgt Frank Henry Dean 565551.R.A.F. M.I.D. Age. 26. (Missing)
REASON FOR LOSS:
274 Squadron Hawker Hurricane Mk I Tropical, by Adam Tooby
A number of Hurricane’s from 274 squadron Took-off from Sidi Barrani, Egypt, in support of Operation Brevity, Sergeant Dean was shot down and killed when his section of Hurricanes fought with Messerschmitt Bf 109s near Halfaya, he was last seen in combat over this area of the desert.
Sergeant Pilot F H Dean of No. 274 Squadron RAF examines belts of .303 ammunition before they are installed in his aircraft at Sidi Barrani, Egypt. In the background, one of the ground crew attaches a trolley-accumulator to Hawker Hurricane Mark I, P2638, sporting the yellow lightning flash emblem (later changed to blue) which became 274 Squadron's unofficial insignia at about this time. (Note: Pilots preferred various spacing for their tracer rounds and it is likely that Frank is checking this in this photo) (I.W.M.)
Area of Halfay and section of the Halfay Pass during World War II.
Burial Details:
None: Missing in Action.
Alamein Memorial, El Alamein, Matruh, Egypt.
Flight Sergeant Frank Henry Dean 565551. R.A.F. M.I.D. (Mentioned in Despatches) Age. 26.
Alamein Memorial, El Alamein, Matruh, Egypt. Column 242.
Son of Andrew Frank and Clara Olivia Dean, of Duddingston, Midlothian.
Research and page construction by David King. Other credits, (C.W.G.C.) (I.W.M.) Artwork, Adam Tooby.