Ritchie, Douglas Samuel
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Douglas Samuel |
Surname | Ritchie |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Elmer Thomas Ritchie and Marion Ritchie (née Henderson), of Upper Kent, Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | BK162 |
Markings | AL-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Septmonts Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Grave 4. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 233 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/104442 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Douglas was born at Upper Kent, Carleton County, New Brunswick on 18 March 1922. His father, who was deceased by the time Douglas enlisted, was a farmer born at Greenfield, New Brunswick and his mother was born at Durham Bridge, York County, New Brunswick. The schools he attended were Upper Kent, 1928-1936, then Andover Grammar 1937-1939 followed by Dalhouse University, 1940-1941. His sport interests were baseball, basketball, and tennis and his hobbies skating, driving a car and models. Douglas worked in the Department of Lands And Mines in New Brunswick, Fredericton on Gealogjcal Surveys, 1939-1940 and then for the YMCA War Service undertaking clerical work from April 1941. |
After enlisting on 29 July 1941 and early training, he was then posted to the U.K. and arrived at 3 PRC on 30 July 1942. He then continued to 10 (0) AFU 7 August 1942, 22 OTU on 1 September 1942, and 429 Squadron on 20 November 1942. Sadly Douglas was to lose his life from there on 17 April 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1852/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1852/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-04-1943 |
End Date | 17-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (87% moon) |
Operation | Mannheim. 271 aircraft, 18 losses (6.6%). Accurate PFF marking followed by a successful raid. Production stopped at 41 industrial premises. 130 deaths and almost 7000 bombed out. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by light flak near Reims on return leg, whilst at 12000'. Finished off by a night-fighter at Septmonts, France |