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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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485 Squadron Crest
24.09.1943 No. 485 Squadron Spitfire LF.IX MH470 F/O. Ainge

Operation: Ramrod 242

Date: 24th September 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 485 Squadron (11 Group - Ka whawhai tonu - "We will fight on")

Type: Spitfire LF.IX

Serial: MH470

Code: OU-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: Saint-Valery-En-Caux

Pilot: F/O. John Albert Ainge NZ/415279 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part Ramrod 242, escorting USAAF Marauders on an operation to bomb Évreux airfield.

Leaving RAF Biggin Hill in Kent at 11:00 hrs.

When they crossed the coast of France MH470 was seen drifting away from the Squadron. No enemy activity had been observed and it is thought possible that he may have experienced oxygen failure.

Burial details:

F/O. John Albert Ainge. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Grave H.64. Son of John Albert Ainge and of Alice May Ainge (née Farra), of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. A total of 560 flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, David Gray for grave photograph, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 01.10.2018

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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