wCdr Norman Ryder and the Kenley Wing

[keith A]

Just finished reading Anthony Copper's latest:

Paddy Finucane and the Legend of the Kenley Wing: No.452 (Australian), 485 (New Zealand) and 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadrons, 1941

Over and above the fact that once again he has taken a microscope and a scalpel to air operations (producing another must for the home library - you won't read this once, it's a reference book for further research and discussion), he also introduces a number of topics.

On his last mission (31 October 1941) Norman Ryder appears to have gone on a suicidal flight into enemy territory. He left the escort formation alone and flew towards enemy territory. Not suprisingly he was shot down by Flak and after a brief captivity escaped and evaded and followed with a distinguished career in the RAF post war.

Given subsequent events he obviously was not planning to surrender so therefore what happened? Did his radio go u/s and he lead an attack without realising his wingmen hadn't heard him. Was he in the "twitch" state where he no longer cared whether he lived or died (he had survived a year of air combat, shot down twice and ditched in the channel)? Are there any memoirs where he is mentioned as a POW to indicate his mental state?

As I say, Cooper's book is superb. I though Darwin Spitfires was a great piece of research but this is as good if not better.