90 Squadron Ridgewell Losses
This Information Is From Rob Davis' Database
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03-Feb-1943
/ 04-Feb-1943 Took off at 18:22 from Ridgewell Shot down by night fighter and crashed at Willeskop, 10 miles south-west of Utrecht. All members of the crew are buried Montfoort General Cemetery. Sgt Mactavish, the son of Lt Gordon Mitchell Humphrey Mactavish RNVR, who lost his life on service on 16 Nov 1947, was a very experienced pilot with 26 operations to his name. F/O Parton had joined the crew in the place of their usual rear gunner, who had been taken ill. Normally, he flew with the CO, W/C J C Clayton. First operation loss by 90 Sqdn after reforming on 7 Nov 42. |
| Pilot: Wood, J F/S+ Crew: Sgt A Carr+ Sgt J F Christon+ Sgt W G Harris+ Sgt D W Howard+ Sgt S Baxter+ Sgt C C Greenaway+ Sgt L A France+ Aircraft: Stirling I - BK644 Code: WP-T Target: Minelaying |
05-Feb-1943
/ 06-Feb-1943 Took off at 18:04 from Ridgewell To lay mines off the Frisian Islands. Lost without trace, all members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. Sgt Carr had been attached from 1657 HCU. Sgt France's parents lived in Alturas del Almendares, Havana, Cuba. AIR14/2791 also suggests that this aircraft crashed off Cromer, Norfolk |
| Pilot: Tabor, L W Sgt RNZAF+ Crew: Sgt T A G Butt+ Sgt E Couldwell+ Sgt J Kennedy+ Sgt Stanley Richard Cann (1190095)+ Sgt K W Valentine+ Sgt A Simmons+ Aircraft: Stirling I - BF415 Code: WP-D Target: Cologne |
14-Feb-1943
/ 15-Feb-1943 Took off at 19:02 from Ridgewell Lost without trace; all members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. |
| Pilot: Brydon, J S F/O RCAF+ Crew: Sgt J A Rodger W/O2 W K Rosenberry RCAF+ F/O N J P Hartney RCAF+ F/S W C Morton RCAF+ Sgt W A Hurn in j Sgt E R Evans inj Aircraft: Stirling I - R9306 Code: WP-J Target: Lorient |
16-Feb-1943
/ 17-Feb-1943 Took off at 18:59 from Ridgewell Homebound, both starboard engines failed. The order to abandon aircraft was given but only three of the crew were able to do so before the Stirling crashed 2305 on Bold Barrow Hill, west of Blandford Forum, Dorset. All four Canadians buried Blandford Cemetery. |
| Pilot: Scholey, A B Sgt+ Crew: Sgt S G Fisher+ Sgt T A Constable+ Sgt G Morrall+ Sgt H M Kennard+ Sgt Ernest Arthur Arnold (1393146)+ Sgt D B Sayer+ Aircraft: Stirling I - BK627 Code: WP-P Target: Wilhelmshaven |
19-Feb-1943 / 20-Feb-1943 Took off at 17:54 from Ridgewell Presumed crashed into the sea. Six Runneymede; Sgt Fisher's body recovered 18 Apr 43 and buried in the Kiel War Cemetery. Sgt Kennard was an associate of Trinity College, London. |
| Pilot: Knowles, R L F/L+ Crew: Sgt M Goldrick+ Sgt A Holt+ Sgt D H Powell+ Sgt R C Frost+ Sgt A M Limbrick+ Sgt R A Johnston+ Sgt C G Parr+ Aircraft: Stirling I - R9276 Code: WP-G Target: Wilhelmshaven |
19-Feb-1943 / 20-Feb-1943 Took off at 17:50 from Ridgewell Lost without trace, all members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. It is thought that Oblt Wolfgang Kuthe, IV/NJG1, may have been responsible for the loss of this Stirling, the combat being timed at 2225. |
| Pilot: Miles, F J Sgt+ Crew: Sgt W R Major+ Sgt A V D Hines+ Sgt G Pettinger+ Sgt J H Dyer+ Sgt W H Bevan+ Sgt E H Holmes+ Sgt J Carrick pow Aircraft: Stirling I - BF410 Code: WP-E Target: Nuremburg |
25-Feb-1943
/ 26-Feb-1943 Took off at 20:39 from Ridgewell Crashed 2 miles south of Rastatt, 13 miles south-west of Karlsruhe. The dead of the crew are buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery; average age 22. Sgt Major had been attached from 1657 HCU. Sgt Hines was the son of Lt Walter Nathaniel Hines RN. |
| Pilot: Spain, V E Sgt RNZAF+ Crew: Sgt J McGhie pow P/O E Lear+ Sgt R G F Bryant+ Sgt R V S Rooke+ Sgt L J Humphrey+ Sgt J H Jackson pow Aircraft: Stirling I - R9349 Code: WP-U Target: St Nazaire |
28-Feb-1943 / 01-Mar-1943 Took off at 18:07 from Ridgewell Expoloded in the air and crashed near Avranches, France, where the dead of the crew are buried in the town's Communal Cemetery. Sgt McGhie sustained a dislocated shoulder when his parachute deployed. |
| Pilot: Fowlie, W A P/O+ Crew: Sgt A McK Mollison+ Sgt M Renaut pow Sgt W M Werkendam pow Sgt J Eccles pow Sgt J B Courtney RCAF+ Sgt E E Garnett pow Aircraft: Stirling I - R9271 Code: WP-Q Target: Essen |
05-Mar-1943
/ 06-Mar-1943 Took off at 19:05 from Ridgewell Crashed at Heumisch Bauernhof, 1 mile E of Sankt Peter. Dead reported as buried in the Stadtfriedhof at Monchengladbach, since Runneymede, as their graves could not be found. |
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09-Mar-1943 / 10-Mar-1943 Took off at 19:29 from Ridgewell To lay mines in the Kattegat, but turned back due to a problem with the starboard outer engine. On touchdown at 2300, an engine surged, causing the aircraft to swing violently, and the undercarriage collapsed. No injuries reported. |
| Pilot: Overton, J F/O inj Crew: Unknown Aircraft: Stirling I - W7627 Code: WP-E Target: Training |
18-Mar-1943 Took off at 14:15 from Ridgewell Swung out of control and collided with a parked Stirling BK693, which was repaired, although later lost over Hamburg. F/O Overton had arrived from 1657 HCU two days before. See next entry and the next. |
| Pilot: Whitworth, R P/O Crew: Sgt K Forester P/O H L Gibbs P/O P Rushbrook Sgt A J Rhodes Sgt H Pelham Sgt C F Keefe Aircraft: Stirling III - BK693 |
18-Mar-1943 Ground collision - hit by Stirling 1 - W7627 (see above) while parked |
| Pilot: Overton, J F/O Crew: Unknown Aircraft: Stirling I - BF409 |
05-Apr-43 Pilot crashed again |
| Pilot: Pugh, F R P/O Crew: Sgt D Rosser Sgt E Jones Sgt S Tomany Sgt N J Coles Sgt W E Edwards Sgt E D F Hine inj Aircraft: Stirling III - BF471 Code: WP-L Target: Frankfurt |
10-Apr-1943 / 11-Apr-1943 Took off at 00:37 from Ridgewell Ran short of petrol whilst returning to base and crash landed 0704 about a miles south of Manston aerodrome. First Stirling III lost by 90 Sqdn. (see 25-Apr) |
| Pilot: Robson, J A Sgt Crew: Sgt N Graham Sgt J G Smith Sgt A G Beresford Sgt H O Sharman Sgt C R Fenwick Sgt R Hammond Aircraft: Stirling I - BF454 Code: WP-W Target: Training |
13-Apr-1943 / 14-Apr-1943 Took off at 22:17 from Ridgewell For a Bullseye exercise, but swung out of control and came to a stop with the undercarriage collapsed. No injuries reported |
| Pilot: Beldin, R J P/O pow Crew: Sgt H Noar+ Sgt E A Shaw+ Sgt R J Palmer+ Sgt Richard Barnett Blake RCAF (9529) {w/op}+ Sgt S F Gould+ Sgt S Hammond+ Aircraft: Stirling III - BF462 Code: WP-P Target: Stuttgart |
14-Apr-1943 / 15-Apr-1943 Took off at 21:48 from Ridgewell Shot down from 11,000 feet after being attacked at rapid intervals by two fighters, identified as an Me110 and a Ju88, crashing at Soude-Notre-Dame-ou-le-Petit, 15 miles south-south-west of Chalons-sur-Marne, France. The dead of the crew are buried near the eastern wall of the village Churchyard. |
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16-Apr-1943 / 17-Apr-1943 Took off at 22:00 from Ridgewell At 0211 and three minutes from Laon, France, shot down by night fighter and crash landed 0214 at Commenchon, 3¸ miles north-west of Chauny, France. Pilot wounded in the wrist; bandaged by w/op. Sgt Fitzgerald was on the last sortie of his tour. On crash landing, pilot and 2nd Pilot thrown through the windscreen. Sgt Phillips given first aid by a local doctor, and kept in a house at Chauny until 15 May 43; arrived at Gibraltar on 23 Jun 43, thence to Hendon on 25 June. Sgt Ford arrived Gibraltar 17 July 43, thence to Liverpool by sea, arriving 24 July. Sgt Gaisford arrived Portreath, Cornwall, on 23 June. |
| Pilot: Elliott, R F P/O RNZAF+ Crew: Sgt B L Beal+ Sgt C B Barrott+ Sgt C McKerns+ Sgt Alfred Chadwick (1214519)+ Sgt N L Fauvel+ Sgt C L Maunder RCAF+ Aircraft: Stirling I - BF442 Code: WP-K Target: Rocquecourt |
20-Apr-1943 / 21-Apr-1943 Took off at 21:28 from Ridgewell Presumed lost over the Baltic. Sgt Maunder buried in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery; other members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. Sgt Fauvel's parents lived on Jersey in the Channel Islands. |
| Pilot: Cross, S N P/O RNZAF+ Crew: Sgt C L Cruttenden+ Sgt N Shield+ Sgt L Tagg+ Sgt T E Hall+ Sgt E M Offen+ Sgt J D Lindrea+ Aircraft: Stirling III - BF463 Code: WP-Q Target: Rostock |
20-Apr-1943 / 21-Apr-1943 Took off at 21:53 from Ridgewell Shot down by flak and crashed 0019 into the waters of the Storebaelt near Sprogo, west of Halsskov-Korsor, Denmark. Five buried Svino Churchyard; Sgts Trigg and Hall members of the crew are buried Copenhagen Cemetery. |
| Pilot: Prioleau, A S W F/L+ Crew: Sgt H Munnery+ Sgt D Stowe+ Sgt W T Leathey+ Sgt C D McKelvie+ Sgt R H Dunstan+ Sgt M Leonard+ Aircraft: Stirling III - BF508 Code: WP-S Target: Rostock |
20-Apr-1943
/ 21-Apr-1943 Took off at 21:49 from Ridgewell Crashed 0048 off Klint, Denmark. F/L Prioleau buried Odense Cemetery; Sgts Stowe and McKelvie, Ebsjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery; other members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. |
| Pilot: Pugh, F R P/O Crew: Sgt D Rosser Sgt E Jones Sgt S Tomany Sgt N J Coles Sgt W E Edwards Aircraft: Stirling III - BK780 |
25-Apr-43 Pilot & 5 crew crashed again. |
| Pilot: Mackenzie, I F F/O+ Crew: Sgt J Wilson+ P/O P A Walker+ Sgt R F Cocking+ Sgt V G Leak+ Sgt J R Boyes+ Sgt R E Hardingham+ Aircraft: Stirling I - BF383 Code: WP-T Target: Duisburg |
26-Apr-1943 / 27-Apr-1943 Took off at 00:37 from Ridgewell Shot down by night fighter and plunged into the IJsselmeer. Four buried in various Dutch cemeteries; Sgts Leak and Boyes are remembered on the Runneymede memorial. F/O Mackenzie was a Bachelor of Laws. |
| Pilot: May, R S S/L+ Crew: Sgt N Marshall+ F/S W G Monk RCAF+ Sgt K G Horne+ Sgt L Hainin+ P/O G F Heathcote-Peirson+ Sgt B H Reeve+ Aircraft: Stirling I - BF346 Code: WP-G Target: Minelaying |
28-Apr-1943
/ 29-Apr-1943 Took off at 20:19 from Ridgewell To lay mines in the Quince region. Presumed lost in the Baltic. F/S Monk buried in the Kiel War Cemetery; other members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. S/L May was from Victoria in British Colombia. |
| Pilot: Maxwell, F C Sgt+ Crew: Sgt L S Broomfield+ Sgt J Kay+ Sgt J T Pooley+ Sgt H W Burton+ Sgt S Sweet+ Sgt R J Davis+ Aircraft: Stirling III - BK814 Code: WP-T Target: Dortmund |
04-May-1943 / 05-May-1943 Took off at 22:26 from Ridgewell Crashed at Derne, 3_ miles south-south-west of Lunen. Burials initially at Hauptfriedhof, Dortmund; after the war only Sgt Kay could be identified and he is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Other members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. |
| Pilot: Morey, W Sgt RCAF+ Crew: Sgt R S Shaw+ Sgt Brian A Bacon+ Sgt W Murray+ Sgt E W Eke+ Sgt A J Buxton+ Sgt C Green+ Aircraft: Stirling III - BF523 Code: WP-G Target: Duisburg |
12-May-1943
/ 13-May-1943 Took off at 00:30 from Ridgewell Shot down by night fighter (Uffz Emil Heinzelmann, III/NJG1) and crashed 0328 into the IJsselmeer, off Nijkerk, Holland. In the years afterwards, all have been identified and taken for burial in various Dutch cemeteries. Sgt Bacon's death was featured in the video SOME OF OUR AIRMEN ARE NO LONGER MISSING when his aircraft was found and identified by Gerrie Zwanenburg of the Royal Dutch Air Force Recovery Team, when the part of the IJsselmeer into which the aircraft crashed, was drained. Sgt Bacon's sister was interviewed. |
| Pilot: Gedak, J I P/O RCAF+ Crew: Sgt S James+ Sgt D H Robinson+ Sgt A V Edwards+ Sgt L Urry+ Sgt S Owen+ Sgt T G Matthews+ Aircraft: Stirling III - BK661 Code: WP-O Target: Duisburg |
12-May-1943
/ 13-May-1943 Took off at 00:18 from Ridgewell Lost without trace, all members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. Average age 23. |
| Pilot: Young, G W P/O DFC RCAF+ Crew: Sgt M G K East RCAF+ Sgt W H Bryant+ F/S C L Saundercock RNZAF+ F/S J L Poulter+ Sgt R Wadsworth+ Sgt E S Pollon RCAF+ P/O C F O'Connell+ Aircraft: Stirling III - EH876 Code: WP-J Target: Dusseldorf |
25-May-1943 / 26-May-1943 Took off at 23:50 from Ridgewell Shot down by night fighter operating off the Dutch coast. Only one body was found, P/O O'Connell being buried on Texel's Den Burg Cemetery. Other members of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial. P/O Young's DFC after Duisburg 11/12 May 43, during which his aircrft was attacked by a night fighter, R/G Sgt William Devine being badly wounded in both legs, however he managed to give the pilot detailed instructions during subsequent attacks. A wheels up landing was later made at Stradishall. Devine was awarded the DFM. |
| Pilot: MacInnes, D A Sgt Crew: Sgt F Sanders Sgt A R Clarke Sgt W G Dickson Sgt E Cautherley Sgt J H Nolan Sgt J C Fenton Aircraft: Stirling I - BK626 Code: WP-W Target: Air Sea Rescue |
25-May-1943 Took off at 10:15 from Ridgewell Crash landed 1300, due to loss of power from three engines, at Shipdham aerodrome, Norfolk. No serious injuries reported. |
| Pilot: Letters, R W J P/O+ Crew: Sgt C W Hughes+ Sgt L L King RNZAF pow F/O K T Estcourt RNZAF+ Sgt F A Wells+ Sgt R Raven+ Sgt H Maskell pow Aircraft: Stirling I - EF349 Code: WP-Y Target: Wuppertal |
29-May-1943 / 30-May-1943 Took off at 23:09 from Ridgewell Shot down by night fighter (Hptm Ludwig Meister, I/NJG4) and crashed Proville, 2 miles south-west of Cambrai, France. The dead of the crew are buried Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery. |
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29-May-1943 / 30-May-1943 Took off at 23:10 from Ridgewell On return, crashed 0430 2 miles north of Stradishall aerodrome. Both New Zealanders and Sgt Johnston, who came from Dublin in the Irish Republic, are buried in Haverhill Cemetery. Other dead taken to their home towns. |
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+ fatality
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~ subsequent fatality
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pow - Prisoner-of-War
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inj - Injured
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evd - Evaded
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This Information Is From Rob Davis' Database