Ridley, Albert James
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Albert James |
Surname | Ridley |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 11-09-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas Francis Anthony and Rosa Evelyn Ridley, of Storrington, Sussex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NA568 |
Markings | LK-Q |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 20. F. 7. |
Epitaph | YOUR MEMORY OUR DEAREST TREASURE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 232 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1334902 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 578 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | For all who served in 578 Squadron Royal Air Force Burn 1944 - 1945 |
Location | Methodist Church, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text |
Location | Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH in Glass topped wooden cabinet |
Memorial Text | In memory of all 578 Sqn Aircrew who failed to return from Ops at RAF Burn |
Miscellaneous Information
The surviving six crew members all became PoW |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 11-09-1944 |
End Date | 11-09-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Burn |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Gelsenkirchen (Nordstern synthetic oil plant). Part of a 379 aircraft attack on three synthetic oil plants. Castrop-Rauxel and Kamen were clearly visible and accurately bombed but the Gelsenkirchen (Nordstern) plant was protected by a smoke screen and although it was bombed, it was not possible to see the results. This attack was escorted by 26 squadrons of fighters- 20 of Spitfires and three each of Mustangs and Tempests although in fact no enemy fighters were encountered. 8 losses in all- one of which due to 'friendly fire' |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak and crashed at Kirchhellen in the Ruhr, Germany |