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Operation: Ramrod
Date: 18th February 1942 (Wednesday)
Unit: 401 Squadron (The Rams)
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: X4666
Code: YO-R
Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
Location: English Channel understood to be close to Ramsgate
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Gerald Francis Clarke R/71424 RCAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed (1)
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:
Flying as Blue 2 the pilot was taking part as one of the high cover aircraft from the Squadron escorting Blenheims bombing a submarine base in Ostend harbour.
Above left: P/O. Hugh John Lynch Merritt J/16571 RCAF and Fl/Sgt. Gerald Francis Clarke R/71424 RCAF. Right: photo marked, Clarke, Flander, Merritt, Cosburn, Duff and Dalgleish.
During the return leg over the Channel he announced on his radio that he was being attacked and hit by two Bf109’s but although others from the Squadron went to investigate, sadly no trace of him was found.
(1) Clarke Narrows in Kapechekamasic Lake in Manitoba was named after Fl/Sgt. Gerald Francis Clarke in 1995.
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. Gerald Francis Clarke. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 103. Son of William John and Ernestine Clarke and husband of Gratia Adelaide Clarke, of 433 Borebank Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, father to Gloria Marie Clarke.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil, other sources as quoted below:
KTY - 17.10.2017
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 19 March 2021, 11:07