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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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175 Squadron Crest
16.04.1942 No. 175 Squadron Hurricane IIb BE485 Fl/Sgt. Bricker W. Forman

Operation: Ramrod 2

Date: 16th April 1942 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 175 Squadron

Type: Hurricane IIb

Serial: BE485

Base: RAF Warmwell, Dorset

Location: English Channel

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Bricker Wilson Forman R/83059 RCAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The first operational sortie for the squadron that took over the aircraft from 402 squadron when they went over to the Spitfire Vb.

During this Ramrod operation his Hurricane developed a Glycol leak, forcing Fl/Sgt. Forman to ditch. Rescue craft were dispatched to pick him up, as he had been seen in a dingy. Sadly when they finally found him he had already died.

Hurricane BE485 during service with 402 Squadron (courtesy Chris - see acknowledgements)

Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery - photographed by webmaster in 2013. This and the photo of the grave of Fl/Sgt. Forman is available at a higher resolution to relatives - please dont hesitate to contact us.

Burial details: 

Fl/Sgt. Bricker Wilson Forman. Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery. Sec. C. Cons. Grave 8999. Son of Gordon Maurice and Edith Jane Forman, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Born on September 07th, 1921. Grave inscription reads: 'True to his King and his country was his glory.'

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 1-3, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Also to Chris of the AV Canada Website forum for the photo of Hurricane BE485.

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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.
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