Operation: Rodeo
Date: 26th July 1942 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 401 Squadron (The Rams)
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: BM429
Code: YO-?
Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
Location: English Channel
Pilot: P/O. John Richards Tucker J/7448 RCAF Age 21. Missing believed killed
We are extremely grateful to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist) for supplying photographs and information to Aircrew Remembered in October 2017. All photographs shown within this page are available to relatives at a higher resolution (as are most of those named within this page) - courtesy of François.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking part in a Rodeo during the afternoon when he was attacked by units from JG26. He attempted to return back to England with his damaged aircraft but was lost over the English Channel.
Left: P/O. John Tucker with Sgt. Alexander Blakey - Sgt. Blakey was killed earlier that year on the 09th March 1942 in Spitfire BL538, buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.
Spitfire BM429 had previously been involved in a crash landing at Shoreham on the 06th May 1942. The pilot at that time had been Fl/Lt. Donald Robert Morrison who survived with no injuries (later shot down - repatriated) This was the last Spitfire Vb lost from 401 Squadron - they moved over to the Spitfire IX the following day.
Burial details:
P/O. John Richards Tucker. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 101. Son of George Richards Tucker and Christina Elizabeth Tucker, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil and sources as quoted below:
