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Operation: High cover escort - Circus 140
Date: 26th April 1942 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 485 Squadron (motto: Ka whawhai tonu - 'We will fight on') 11 Group
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: BM139
Code: OU-E
Base: RAF Kenley, Surrey
Location: English Channel
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. John Raby Liken NZ/404395 RNZAF Age 28. Wounded
REASON FOR LOSS:
A disastrous day for fighter command losing or seriously damaging 9 aircraft, 485 squadron coming off worst losing 4 Spitfires.
Taking off at 17:10 hrs. with others of the Squadron escorting Hurricane bombers on an operation to Calais silk factory. Th squadron were intercepted by a large group of enemy fighters over the coast of France.
Baled out wounded at 18:10 hrs. and despite being rescued, he died in hospital later the same evening.
Others lost from the Squadron:
Spitfire Vb BM290 Flown by Fl/Sgt. Travis Coburn Goodlet NZ/403546 RNZAF. Joined the squadron in December 1941. Shot down and taken PoW. PoW No: 50. Camp: Heydekrug. Survived the war, but died at the young age of 42 on the 5th June 1963. Ashes buried at Andersons Bay RSA Cemetery, Block 41S, Plot 25. Living at Wanganui at date of death.
Spitfire Vb BM197 Flown by Lloyd Mackay Ralph NZ/401779 RNZAF. Hit and wounded he managed to return to base. Awarded the DFC on the 24th July 1945. Flew over 230 operational sorties. Son of Charles Humphrey Ralph and Rebecca (nee Fletcher), husband of Wendy Jacka. Appointed a Justice of the Peace in Timaru in 1978. Passed away on the 22rd May 1983 in Timaru, New Zealand.
Spitfire Vb BM267 OU-N Flown by F/O. John Gordon Pattison NZ/39931 RNZAF. Born on the 27th January 1917 in Waipawa. Shot down but managed to glide most of the way to the English coast near Dungeness. and only after 90 minutes picked up by Air Sea Rescue launch. Awarded DSO, DFC, Légion d'honneur. By the end of the war had completed 259 operational sorties. Retired as Squadron Leader in January 1946, Pattison returned to New Zealand to farm at Waipawa before retiring to Havelock North. Passed away on Friday 11th September 2009 age 92.
DSO Citation 8th May 1945: 'This officer has completed a third tour of operational duty. He has displayed the highest standard of skill and courage, and throughout his devotion to duty has been unfailing. He has shown the finest qualities of leadership both in the air and on the ground, and his sterling work has contributed in good measure to the success of the squadron he commands. Within recent months, Squadron Leader Pattison has destroyed many enemy vehicles and shot down two enemy aircraft'.
485 Squadron 1941: L-R: Unknown Adjutant's Assistant; Douglas Forrester Clarke DFC, AFC, CdeG(Belg) Died 20 March 2006, Leslie Samuel McQueen White DFC, John Francis Pym Yeatman DFC, Allan Bennetto Stead DFC killed 06th January 1945, Herbert William Bernard Patterson, Lindsey Stuart Black DFC (Flight Commander), Marcus William Bower Knight DFC, LoMO *(Commanding Officer), Owen Leslie Hardy DFC (Flight Commander), Frank Transom, Terrence Stephen Franklin Kearins, Desmond Xavier O'Halloran Died 17 December 2008, Desmond Roberts, Keith James Macdonald DFC, Clinton McInnes Died 15 November 1944, Maxwell Amner Collett mid
L-R: Edward George Atkins Died 16 October 2012, Athol Downer, William Adino Newenham DFC, Royce Harry de Tourret, John Arthur Houlton DFC Died 16 April 1996, James Norby King (Adjutant) Died 14 February 2014, Donald Graeme Lane Taylor Died 8 February 1945, Joseph Robinson, Lloyd Mackay Ralph DFC Died 22rd May 1983, Maurice Colgan Mayston mid, Russell Murray Clarke DFC Died 6 January 2011
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. John Raby Liken. Whyteleafe Churchyard (St Luke). Row I. Grave 29. Born 25th November 1913 at Oamaru. Farm manager for Powdrell Brothers prior to starting training as a pilot on the 23rd November 1940. Son of Thomas Liken and Florence Evelyn (née Sharpe). He was married to Pearl Ann (née Stevens and later Martin) of Wellington. Serving at the time in the WAAF Service No: W5563. Fl/Sgt. Liken had a total of 345 flying hours logged and completed 38 operational sorties.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 12.01.2021
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them. - Laurence
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