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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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19 Squadron Mustang III FZ158 Fl/Lt. Ross, North of Doullins, France

Operation: Sweep

Date: 23rd April 1944 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 19 Squadron

Type: Mustang III

Serial: FZ158

Code: QV-?

Base: RAF Ford

Location: North of Doullins, France

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Derek Coles Ross 120596 RAVFR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off for a Sweep to Metz during the afternoon of the 23rd April. Thought to have been hit by anti-aircraft fire and fell inverted in flames North of Doullins, France.

Above: area of operations with insert Fl/Lt. Derek Coles Ross, below 19 Squadron Mustang III's April 1944


Sherborne School, Dorset - Any further information that you are able to assist them with fallen former pupils from all wars, we would be pleased to pass onto them. 

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Derek Coles Ross.St. Pol War Cemetery, France. Row F. Grave 9. With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information: Born on 17th June 1922. Son of Sir Mackenzie Ross and Lady Esme Ross, of Richmond, Surrey (formerly of Fairlight, Rustington, Sussex). Attended Sherborne Preparatory School. Attended Sherborne School (Lyon House) September 1936-December 1939.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of the pilot with thanks to Sherborne School Archives and sources as shown below.

Right: St. Pol War Cemetery

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Acknowledgements
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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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