Hunter, Raymond Orville
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Raymond Orville |
Surname | Hunter |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 09-10-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harvey Llewelyn Hunter and Susan Muriel Hunter (née Rohrer), of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Husband of Nora Hunter (née Ward). Marriage in South Shields, County Durham, England on 4 December 1943. Father of Raymond Orville Hunter (born 4 April 1945). Like so many, a baby never to see his father. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ802 |
Markings | QB-G Gallopin' Gertie |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 2. H. 25. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 186 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | C/85347 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 424 (Tiger) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Skipton on Swale, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the Canadian personnel who served at RAF Skipton on Swale during WW2, including 424 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
He enlisted on 20 May 1941 and after training embarked from Canada on 13 December 1941 arriving in the U.K. at 3PRC on 26 December 1941. He went on to 402 Sqn on 1 April 1942, 431 Sqn 30 December 1942, 1659 CU 29 May 1943 and 161 Sqn on 14 June 1943. He was reported missing in the July of 1943 and then found to be safe in the U.K. in the November. Sadly Raymond lost his life on 9 October 1944. |
The six surviving crew members all became PoW |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 09-10-1944 |
End Date | 10-10-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (41% moon) |
Operation | Bochum. 435 aircraft, 5 losses (1.1%). The target was cloud covered and the bombing was scattered as a result. Some damage to the southern districts of Bochum with 140 houses being destroyed and approximately 150 people killed. |
Reason for Loss | Raymond was born on 29 April 1920 at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. His father, a farmer, was born at Gladstone, Manitoba and his mother in Pennsylvania, USA. His parents lived at Hazenmore, Saskatchewan his wife and son lived in England. He had three brothers Howard, Clarence and Alvin. He attended the following schools: Jack Creek No. 2875 1927-1933 (Public grade 8) and again, Jack Creek No. 2875 1933-1935 (High School grade 10). He also went on the Regina Y.T.P. 1940- 1941 to study Aero Engine Mechanics. The sports he took part in were softball, swimming, and hockey. Between 1935-1940 Raymond worked for his father Harry Hunter, on the farm. |