AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

504 Squadron Crest
25.07.1943 No. 504 Squadron Spitfire V AA755 TM-U F/O. Jack Jagger

Operation: Ramrod 154

Date: 25th July 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 504 Squadron

Type: Spitfire MkV

Serial: AA755

Code: TM-U

Base: RAF Patrington, Yorkshire

Location: Broek in Waterland Holland

Pilot: F/O. Jack Jagger 130593 RAFVR Age 21. PoW Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

REASON FOR LOSS: 

In the afternoon on 25 July 1943, taking off on Ramrod 154. This consisted of the sub-operations; Ramrod 154/I and Ramrod 154/II. Ramrod 154/I was against Schipol with twelve Mitchell’s from 180 Squadron supported by seven squadrons of Spitfire Mk.Vs (10 and 12 Group) and Spitfire Mk.IXs of Northolt and Kenley Wings. 

Ten Mitchell’s bombed the Fokker works at Schiphol at 15:00 from 14,000ft with 80 x 500-lb. bombs with good concentration of strikes while encountering heavy flak. All bombers returned. 504 Squadron flew as close escort and encountered 4 x Bf109Gs near Amsterdam at around 15:00. 

Fl/Sgt. Gough claimed one as a probable and an unknown pilot from the unit claimed a damaged while F/O. Jagger  was taken PoW after having been shot down at 15:04 hrs.

Burial details: 

None survived the war. However, killed at a later date - buried at Coningsby Cemetery, England.

August 14th 1952 Sq/Ldr. Jack Jagger was killed whilst flying in Meteor F Mk 8, WK657 of No 92 Squadron crashed at Dogdyke, near Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Struck ground during aerobatics. The aircraft, flown by Sq/Ldr. Jagger of 92 Sqn was spending a week at Coningsby. A visit was made by a senior delegation. 

Sq/Ldr. Jagger was an expert aerobatic pilot and agreed to put on a display for the delegation. His finale was always a bunt, half twist and a very low inverted high speed flight along the runway - undergoing very high negative g forces which could leave his eyes a bright salmon pink. A flight of 3 Meteors had requested permission to land and Jack Jagger was asked by the tower to hurry his demonstration. Probably he started his last manoeuvre too slowly, and therefore did not have sufficient height.

He did his normal half twist, realised he did not have sufficient height and did another half twist back to a normal attitude. Unfortunately he l did not have enough height and crashed into a herd of cows in a field at the end of the runway. A fine pilot and a great CO losing his life at 30 years of age. 

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered - November 2015. Photograph from the Michel Beckers collection. Grave photo courtesy Maria Robinson.

MB 14.11.2015

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
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.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to buy research books from Amazon •Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 14 November 2015, 23:19

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor