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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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401
401 (RCAF) Squadron Spitfire IX MH886 Fl/Lt. Thomas Koch

Operation: Ramrod 336

Date: 26th November 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 401 (RCAF) Squadron (motto: Mors celerrima hostibus - 'Very swift death for the enemy')

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: MH886 (1)

Code: YO-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill

Location: Hawkinge, Kent.

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Thomas Koch J/7011 RCAF Age 26. Safe

REASON FOR LOSS:

A total of 14 aircraft from the squadron took off at 11:40 hrs to escort B-26 Marauders on an operation to Cambrai in northern France.

Spitfire MH886 was hit and damaged by ground fire but Fl/Lt. Koch nursed the aircraft back to England before crash landing at Hawkinge, the closest operational airfield to France. The pilot was safe but the aircraft was struck off charge.

On the same operator W/O.II Harry Dubnick from 416 squadron flying Spitfire EN908. His aircraft was damaged by enemy fire and he called to say he was going to make a force landed near Doullens. Nothing further was heard from him.

Left: Fl/Lt. Thomas Koch (Courtesy François Dutil)

(1) Spitfire MH886 built 05th October 1943, a new aircraft delivered to 401 squadron on the 21st November 1943. Spitfire V EN908 built on the 13th May 1942, taken on charge with 416 squadron on the 12th May 1943.

Further details:

Fl/Lt. Thomas Koch born in August 1917 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Husband of Opal Lillian Koch from Minnesota, USA. (née Salmond - born 22nd December 1920 - died 23rd February 2001, age 81)

She was previously married to P/O. Wilfred Charles Gay who was serving in 428 squadron who was lost over France in Lancaster I KB 756 on the 05th July 1944. Further details here.



Thomas passed away in hospital on the 10th May 2000, age 82 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Rests in Valley View Memorial Gardens.

W/O.II Harry Dubnick. Calais Canadian War Cemetery. Grave 8G.10. Born on the 10th September 1920 in Winnipeg,Manitoba, Canada. Enlisted 28th November 1941. Son of McAuley Dubnick age 87) and Annie Dubnick (née Twerdun - died 1955, age 65) of 30 Cameron Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the Auckland, National Archive, Kew AIR-27-1773-21/22. Paradie RCAF Archives. Also to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist)

Other sources as quoted below:

KTY 24-08-2025

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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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