Operation: Armed Reconnaissance, Germany

Date: 24th October 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit No: 175 Squadron, 121 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: PD494

Code: HH:T

Base: ALG B.80 Volkel, Netherlands

Location: East of Megen, Netherlands

Pilot: Fg Off. Ross William Clarke J26500 RCAF Age 25. KiA

Above: Sgt. Ross William Clarke R117514, from his Service Record

REASON FOR LOSS

The circumstances leading to the death of Fg Off. Clarke were described in a report submitted by Plt Off. G.A. Henry who flew with him on the operation.

“I took off at approximately at 10:25 hrs on the 24th October 1944, flying #2 to Fg Off. R.W. Clarke. We were briefed for an armed recce. We attacked a train at …. There was intense light flak over the target. Fg Off. R.W. Clarke was hit in the coolant and I noticed his aircraft was streaming white smoke. I was not in contact with him with R/T as my set had gone u/s. He flew south and his engine completely failed when he was approximately 2,000 feet over the Maas [Meuse] and then baled out. I saw him land in the river and, after getting rid of his parachute, he started swimming for the north bank. After swimming half-way to the bank, he’d landed in mid-stream, I noticed he had stopped swimming and I could not see him anymore.

I then returned to base and reported the facts to the Station Intelligence Officer.

Ten minutes later, the Air Liaison Officer (ALO) and myself left the airfield by road to try and find Fg Off. R.W. Clarke. We duly arrived at my pinpoint to find Dutch civilians in two small boats dragging the river for his body. According to eye-witnesses, Fg Off. Clarke landed mid-stream and, after getting rid of his parachute, started swimming towards the north bank of the river were numerous helpers were waiting to help him out. He managed to get within 30 yards of the bank and then suddenly sank. He was never seen again. Boats were launched as soon as he landed in the water but they could reach him in time. We left the scene some three hours later and they had not found the body by that time.

The river at this point was over 100 yards in width, 18 feet deep and a current of 6 knots. The were also strong undercurrents and eddies”.

At 12:00 hrs on the 15th November 1944 Maj. John F. Merner, 2 i/c of the 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment, was informed that an English body had been washed up in the Maas [Meuse] river near Appeltern. He established that this was the body of an unidentified Canadian Plt Off. He was initially buried in an isolated grave in Batenburg and later identified from his identity card as Fg Off. Clarke.

Note: Appeltern is down river from where Fg Off. Clarke entered the river. Due east of Megen would place his landing in the river north of Dieden and some 2¼ km (1½ ml) east of Appeltern, Netherlands.

Note: Batenburg is some 3¼ km (2 ml) ESE of Appeltern.

Earlier, on the 26th September 1944, 175 Sqn Typhoons were on a mission in the Tilburg area when they were attacked by about 50 Bf109s. Fg Off. Clarke’s Typhoon Ib, MM966 HH:S, was hit in the first attack but he managed to evade the German fighters and nurse his aircraft back for a crash-landing at ALG B.70 (Antwerp/Deurne, Belgium).

Burial details:

Above: Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery

Fg Off. Ross William Clarke. Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery 25.C.10. Inscription: 'THE LORD GAVE THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD’. Born on the 23rd June 1919 in Montreal, Quebec. Son of William John and Ethel (née Field) Clarke of St. Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

His mother predeceased him on the 26th June 1939.

Three brothers, Douglas, Warren and Llayel all served with the Royal Canadian Army overseas at that time of his death. All three survived the war and returned home.

Researched by Ralph Snape and dedicated to this pilot and his family.

Other sources as quoted below:

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