Operation: Ramrod

Date: 20th November 1943 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 56 Squadron (Punjab) (motto: Quid Si Coelum Ruat - 'What if heaven falls')

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: EK209

Code: US-P

Base: RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk

Location: Witnesham, Suffolk

Pilot: F/O. 'Moss' Roland Raymond Amey J/20654 RCAF Age 20. Seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 15:35 hrs with nine others from the squadron a Ramrod to Audinghen in France, led by Fl/Lt. B.L.G Hawkins 88874 RAFVR.

Weather conditions were described as a glorious day with slight haze over the airfield. Over the target: 2/10 cloud at 400 ft with good visibility.

The attack was described as a success with 16 x 500 lb bombs dropped resulting in the total destruction of the village which was occupied bt the German Army. It was also the centre of 'Organisation Totd' (1). The squadron encountered considerable ant-aircraft fire over the target.

During the return trip, whilst over Ipswich other aircraft noticed white smoke coming from EK209 which then disappeared below the formation which were turning to starboard at the time.

It was later established that he crash landed at Witnesham at around 16:30 hrs. The damage to the aircraft was probably caused by shrapnel from the antiaircraft fire over the target.

The pilot was taken to East Suffolk hospital in Ipswich. He died of multiple head injuries at 21:55 hrs.

(1) Todt was a civil and military engineering organisation in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, named for its founder, Fritz Todt, an engineer and senior Nazi. The organisation was responsible for a huge range of engineering projects both in Nazi Germany and in occupied territories from France to the Soviet Union during World War II.

Above left: F/O. 'Moss' Roland Raymond Amey with righ: F/O. Robert Gordon Crosby (courtesy Francois Dutil)

Burial details:

His funeral took place on Thursday 25th November at 14:30 hrs. His close friend who flew with him on this operation, F/O. Robert Gordon Crosby (later MiD DFC) C/22655 RCAF attended the funeral which was with full military honours.

F/O. Roland Raymond Amey. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 47.G.7. Born on the 06th July 1923 in Newfoundland. Worked as a clerk for the Bank of Nova Scotia prior to service. Enlisted on the 09th October 1941. Pilot wings awarded on the 06th November 1942.

Son of William (died 27th December 1954, age 65) and Amelia Jane Amey (née Billard - died 31st March 1965, age 75), of Cornwall Street, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Brother to Arthur, Olive, Ruth Mary Augusta (Forsey), William Cecil, Ethel (Hiscock), Jean (Walsh), Gerald and Gloria (Neilson). Epitaph: 'Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For Friends'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archive Kew, AIR-27-531-21/22. Paradie RCAF Archive, Government of Canada, The Typhoon project, Wikitree.

Pages of interest:
Pages relating to 1943
Pages relating to RCAF Losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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