Richings, Thomas Montague
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Thomas Montague |
Surname | Richings |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 06-12-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Montague Waugh Richings and Adelaide Maud Richings. Husband of Lola Joyce Richings, of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Lockheed Ventura II |
Serial Number | AJ196 |
Markings | EG-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. A. 1. |
Epitaph | A DEAR HUSBAND AND DADDY. HEARTS THAT LOVED HIM ALWAYS ARE THE ONES THAT NEVER FORGET |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 232 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1066223 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 2 |
Squadron | 487 (New Zealand) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 06-12-1942 |
End Date | 06-12-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Feltwell |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Operation Oyster. Eindhoven- Philips radio and valve factory (by day). 93 aircraft, 17 losses (18.2%), although the loss rate for the underpowered Venturas was 19% even higher. The 8th Air Force operated a diversionary raid to Lille using Spitfires as escort. A low level raid in clear conditions led to very accurate bombing and the factory was extensively damaged. The raid was deliberately planned for a Sunday when few employees would have been on site. Full production took 6 months to achieve due to the level of damage. Of the aircraft that successfully returned an extraordinarily high number (23) sustained bird strike damage! |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak and crashed on Woensdrecht airfield, SSE of Bergen op Zoom |