Operation: Ramrod
Date: 15th July 1943 (Thursday)
Unit: No. 602 Squadron
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: EN840
Base: RAF Bognor, West Sussex
Location: Cayeaux area, France
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Arthur Sidney Ronald Strudwick DFC. RAFVR Age 22. PoW Stalag Luft Sagen and Belaria
REASON FOR LOSS:
During a ramrod operation during the afternoon of the 15th July 602 squadron engaged in combat with Fw 109's from JG26 over Cayeaux, France whilst escorting bombers on the way to bomb Poix. He was hit but managed to bale out.
Spitfire Vb AR428 Flown by Fl/Sgt H. Hannah, baled out, wounded and made PoW.
Spitfire Vb BL971 Flown by 27 year old New Zealander Fl/Sgt. Richard G.J. McKenzie, killed.
Spitfire Vb AD290 Flown by Canadian Sgt. A.T. Tysowski, made PoW.
Fl/Lt Strudwick escaped an earlier incident on the 3rd March 1942. Returning from a sweep in the Dunkirk area he was hit by flak, managed to nurse the Spitfire Vb W3956 back to base but it was written off during the following crash landing.
Note: This Spitfire EN840 was built at the Castle Bromwich factory and fitted with the Merlin 45 engine. Spitfire Vb W3956 was built at the High Post works and first flown on the 27th September 1941, also fitted with the Merlin 45 engine.
Left: Air Commodoe Arthur Strudwick at the end of his RAF Career.
Burial Details:None, Fl/Lt. Arthur Sidney Ronald Strudwick remained in the RAF until 1976. Flew the Meteor on his return, reaching the rank of Air Commodore at the end of his career. Further information can be read in his Daily Telegraph Obituary, re-printed on our website with full permission.
Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 2, Aviation Prints for Spitfire information, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
