Operation: Armed recce

Date: 6th October 1944 (Friday)

Unit: 486 Squadron

Type: Hawker Tempest V

Serial: JN863

Code: SA:R

Base: B80 Volkel, Netherlands

Location: Eefde, Netherlands

Pilot: Fg Off. Raymond John Cammock DFC 414723 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 07.00 hrs on an armed reconnaissance patrol in the Arnheim-Deventer-Lingen region together with 7 others from the squadron.

Above: Fg Off. Raymond Cammock DFC on right with Owen Eagleson on left (courtesy IWM)

Fg Off. Owen David 'Ginger' Eagleson on 2nd May 1945 flying Tempest V NV722, was shot down by flak near Lübeck. He survived, unhurt - understood to have evaded capture.

Above: An early Typhoon Ib of 486 Sqn. This was serial JP853 which was destroyed by fire at RAF Tangmere in November 1943

Burial details:

Fg Off. Raymond John Cammock DFC. Lochem New General Cemetery. Row 1. Grave 6. Son of David John and Bertha Agnes Cammock, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, husband of Kathleen W. Cammock, father to Frank, of Barrowford, Lancashire, England.

Trained with 61 OTU, flew 97 operations previously with 253 squadron, 116 operations with 486 squadron.

DFC citation published in the London Gazette 13th December 1944. Citation reads:"This officer has displayed great zest for operations and has completed a large number of varied sorties. He has set a fine example of skill and courage and his devotion to duty has been unflagging. Fg Off. Cammock has destroyed 20 flying bombs."

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Web master) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Errol Martyn - 'For Your Tomorrow' Vol’s 1-3, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 1-3. André Reijniers for grave photo. (Oct 2018). Thanks to Murray Olsen for the correct identification of aircraft SA:K (Mar 2022).

Note: 'For Your Tomorrow' (Vol.2) compiled by Errol Martin. Published by Volplane Press. ISBN: 0-473-06310-7.
'Fighter Command Losses' (Vol.3) compiled by Norman L.R. Franks. Published by Midland Publishing. ISBN: 1-85780-093-1.