Archive Report: Allied Forces
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26.04.1942 No. 601 Squadron Spitfire VcT BR125 P/O. Cripps
Operation: Interception
Date: 26th April 1942 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 601 Squadron
Type: Spitfire VcT
Serial: BR125
Code: Not known
Base: RAF Ta Qali
Location: Qormi, Malta
Pilot: P/O. Walter Ephraim Cripps J/5806 RCAF Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Shot down by units from 8./JG53 - pilot baled out of his spitfire but died later of his wounds.
(Further research continues)


Burial details:
P/O. Walter Ephraim Cripps. Malta Naval Cemetery (Capuccini) Prot. Sec. (Officers'). Plot E. Coll. grave 20. Son of Joseph B. Cripps and Lilian Cripps of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.
Researched for Martin Connell/Lynda and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to sources as quoted below:
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include:
Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.