rcaf p-40 crash 2nd october 1942

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Anyone any info on an rcaf p-40 crash near vancouver canada,2nd october 1942, the pilot was killed and buried royal oak cemetry.
cheers
jerry

[Alex Smart]

Hello Jerry,
Possibly "1092" AL216 served with 118 Sqdn RCAF.
See lists here

http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/RCAF_1050_1099_detailed.html

Alex

[brewerjerry]

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the reply, not 1092, as Alaska is a long way away, but i had totally forgotten about the pages you linked to.
Many thanks
Jerry

[John Melson]

Hi Jerry,
It was AK952. The a/c crashed and burned in Lynn Valley 49.23N 123.03W 02 Oct 42. Pilot's name not given.
Source: Crash Card
Cheers,
John

[brewerjerry]

Originally Posted by John Melson

Hi Jerry,
It was AK952. The a/c crashed and burned in Lynn Valley 49.23N 123.03W 02 Oct 42. Pilot's name not given.
Source: Crash Card
Cheers,
John

Hi John,
Thanks for the reply & serial, I will see what else i can find.
Google gives the grid location as nr kingsway in burnaby, so the crash record location might be wrong, as Lynn valley is on the north shore.
cheers
Jerry


just googled AK952, only hit was
13 June 1942 18:15 Flt Sgt Roy Stone (RAF) in AK952 killed in action, shot down by Hans-Joachim Marseille near El Adem/Gazala.

seems this might be a bit hard to solve ?

it gets stranger i can only find Beaufort L7911 Struck trees attempting a force land in fog near Vancouver University for this date.

cheers
Jerry

[John Melson]

Hi Jerry,

Further to the Crash Card, J. A. Griffin's 'Canadian Military Aircraft.....' lists Kittyhawk I '1060' TOS 28 Jan 42, SOS 08 Oct 42 Previous Registration 'AK952'..... maybe it's the new number '1060 that you are seeking.
The SOS date is serveral days later but that's not unusal.
Geneally speaking the offical Crash Cards very accurate for serial numbers but the actual crash locations are hit and miss.

Saw the 'AK952 in North Africa' also on a Google search but a source document for the serial isn't stated.

Griffin's book lists L7911 as an Anson TOS 09 Oct 41 SOS 25 May 43 served with 32 OTU.

Cheers,
John

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Could this be your man?

Name: RIDGWAY, ARNOLD
Initials: A
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air force
Age: 27
Date of Death: 02/10/1942
Service No: J/13996
Additional information: Son of James and Mary Ridgway, of Outremont.
Casualty type: Commonwealth War dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. L5/2289A.
Cemetery: MONTREAL (MOUNT ROYAL) CEMETERY

No unit given above, but the CVWM gives Ridgway's unit as 14 Squadron.

No.14 (F) Sqn was operating Kittyhawks at this time. Could you be mistaken about the place of burial? (ROYAL OAK)/(MOUNT ROYAL), easily confused.

Col.

[Andy Saunders]

"They Shall Grow Not Old" gives P/O Ridgway as pilot of AK952 which crashed into side of hill in bad weather at Lynn Creek, North Vancouver.

[brewerjerry]

Hi All,
Many thanks for the replies and sorting out my confusion.
Have a good weekend.
Cheers
Jerry

[Alex Smart]

Hello Jerry,

Good that you have tha details of pilot and aircraft .
Interestingly I checked AK952 out in the revised AB serial book and found that ALL the RCAF Kittyhawk I's in the AK range are listed with NO previous history, just - To RCAF as 10##, followed by a date. In AL952's case To RCAF as 1060, 28.1.42.
So I expect that the earlier reference to North Africa and being shot down by an ace is in error. Stone was a pilot with 450 Sqdn AK958, AL106 and AL117 all 450 Sqdn a/c were lost on the 13/06/42 and AK949 of 112 Sqdn was also lost on this day.

Alex