Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
Peter:
The only entry for this flight comes from the ORB.
Oct 17th, 1944:
Crew
F/L S.H.R. Cotterill.
F/O C.G. Finlayson
F/L May
F/O Ritch
Duty
Day Ranger Vienna Area
Up Down
NYR
Details of Sortie or Flight
F/L May and F/O Ritch crash landed in enemy territory, crew safe.
Later in the month, when the ORB summary is complete it reads in part for Oct 17th:
F/L Cotterill after landing in Italy took off on another trip and is, unfortunately, missing from this.
I have no record of which aircraft was being flown by these crews. All my available documentation is rather silent on this event.
However, I do see from other records I maintain that there are records for NS857 to be flying into November, 1944. As far as these records go, the aircraft wasn't lost on the date you identify.
I do have a copy of the newspaper clipping printed Oct 18th, 1944 identifying the loss of Colin Finlayson where he was reported missing and presumed dead.
HTH
Mark Proulx
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