Ritch, Alister Frank Gray
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Alister Frank Gray |
Surname | Ritch |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-02-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of James William and Elsie Isobel Ritch (née Gray), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster l |
Serial Number | ED352 |
Markings | DX-Q |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Germain-Au-Mont-D'Or Communal Cemetery Extension |
Grave Reference | Row C. Grave 17. |
Epitaph | THE DESIRE OF A MAN IS HIS KINDNESS PROV.XIX.22 (Proverbs 19:22) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 90 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/10305 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 57 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sculptures, Inscribed Memeorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who gave their lives with 57 and 630 Squadrons 1939 - 1945 |
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stenciled 57 Sqn RoH in site Chapel |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of the men of No. 57 Squadron who lost their lives operating from Royal Air Force East Kirkby 1943 to 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 19 December 1920, Toronto. His father James was born in Cupar, Fife and died 31 August 1935. His schooling was at Upper Canada College (1928-38- Juniro Matric); Central Technical School (1928-9 Senior Matric drafting); University of Toronto (1939-41 mining engineering). His sporting interests included skiing, swimming, shooting and fishing and his hobbies were sailing, canoeing and photography. Before enlisting he worked as a miner in 1940 and 'general duties' for MacKellar Langleys Ltd of Toronto in 1941. He served as a cadet whilst at university. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/538/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/538/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-02-1943 |
End Date | 05-02-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Scampton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Torino |
Reason for Loss | Aircraft took off from Scampton at 1803 hrs detailed to attack targets in Turin. Aircraft crashed in mountainous region some 10 km North East of Boug-St-Maurice Rhone France. There were no survivors |