Operation: Ranger

Date: 17th May 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 65 Squadron (122 Wing, 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force)

Type: Mustang III

Serial: FX993

Code: YT-?

Base: RAF Funtingdon, Sussex

Location: North bank of Linfjord, Denmark

Pilot: Fl/Lt. 'Dicki' Richard Barrett NZ/391324 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

After landing at RAF Coltishall in Norfolk from their base took off at 09:05 hrs with 7 others from the squadron on a Ranger patrol to Aalborg in Denmark.

When over the target area heavy fighting took place with Fl/Lt Barrett hitting a He 177A-5 which was forced †o return to its base - Fl/Lt. still engaging the aircraft when he was then shot down at low altitude by Uffz. Siegfried Rudchinat of 10./JG11, crashing in shallow water on the north bank of Linfjord shortly after midday.

Above: 485 Squadron members, Redhill 1941. Front sitting L-R: Fl/Sgt. John Donald Rae, Fl/Lt. Richard Barrett, Fl/Sgt. Harvey Sweetman. Centre: P/O. Macleod RCAF, Sgt. Ellis Arthur Gilbert Cochrane, Sgt. Lyndon Poynton Griffith, P/O. William Vernon Crawford-Compton, Sq/Ldr. Marcus William Bower Knight, Sgt. Andy S. Kronfeld, P/O. David Thomas Clouston. Rear on Aircraft: Fl/Lt. Robert Harold Strang, Sgt. Arnold George McNeil, Sgt. L.J. Frecklington, Sgt. Francis, Fl/Sgt. William Max Krebs. (see notes below)

On the 17th April 1941 he had a lucky escape when near to his base at RAF Driffield his Spitfire R6697 suffered engine failure but he managed to force land the aircraft. Less than a fortnight earlier he had to force land another Spitfire X4662 near Market Weighton.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Richard Barrett. Frederikshavn Cemetery. Allied Plot. Grave 64. Son of Charles John and Doris Barrett, of Auckland City, New Zealand. A total of 944 flying hours logged and having completed some156 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

Notes:
Then a F/O. John Donald Rae DFC and bar - Shot down flying Spitfire IX JL223 - survived as a PoW.
Fl/Lt. Robert Harold Strang - Missing - believed killed on the 25th January 1942.
Fl/Sgt. William Max Krebs - Missing - believed killed on the 26th March 1942
Then P/O. Ellis Arthur Gilbert Cochrane - Missing - believed killed on the 02nd March 1943
Then Air Vice Marshall William Vernon Crawford-Compton - Died 02nd January 1988 Age 73.
Then Fl/Lt. Harvey Nelson Sweetman DFC - survived the war - Died 15 January 2015 Age 93
Sgt. Arnold George McNeil - killed on the 25th February 1942
Then Fl/Lt. Andy Kronfeld - survived the war
Then Fl/Lt. Lyndon P. Griffith DFC - survived the war
Then Fl/Lt. David Thomas Clouston MiD - survived the war - Died 24th March 1998 Age 80.
Then Fl/Lt. Lyndon Poynton Griffith DFC - Survived the war

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: 02 April 2021, 20:26