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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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310 squadron bdge
27.02.1943. No. 310 Squadron Spitfire Vb EP572 NN-Z Fl/Lt. Ridkosil

Operation: Ramrod 54

Date: 27th February 1943 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 310 Squadron (Czech)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: EP572

Code: NN-Z

Base: RAF Exeter, Devon

Location: English Channel, North East Brest.

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Vaclav Jan Petr Ridkosil 82944 RAFVR Age 29. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a Ramrod they encountered Fw. 190's and Fl/ Lt Ridkisil was shot down and lost North East of Brest over the English Channel

310 Squadron lost another Spitfire, during the same encounter, EP287 was shot down in the same area. Fl/Lt. Burda was taken prisoner of war. 313 Squadron also lost a Spitfire and pilot, Fl/Lt. Miloslav Stusak was shot down and killed.

Fl/Lt. Ridkosil whilst an instructor at Course 23 58 OTU, Grangemouth Scotland: Front row: P/O. Bendit, P/O. Banach, F/O. Andersz, Fl/Lt. Ridkosil, F/O. Preihs, P/O. Ciach, P/O. Birtus - Centre row: Sgt. Ziendalski, Sgt. Haczkiewicz, Sgt. Makowski, Sgt. Muszynski, Sgt. Gilis, Sgt. Orzechowski, Sgt. Plenkiewicz - Rear row: Sgt. Bednarz, Sgt. Starzynski, Sgt. Kierski, Sgt. Sztuka, Sgt. Murkowski, Sgt. Kobylinski

Note: Spitfire Vb EP572 was built at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory and was fitted with the Merlin 46 engine.



Burial Details: None - Fl/Lt. Ridkosil's body was not recovered.

Fl/Lt. Vaclav Jan Petr Ridkosil. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 120. Next of Kin details not currently available.


Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks for further information to the Grangemouth Air Cadets and the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust who provided Kelvin Youngs with so much information and assistance during Aircrew Remembered's personal visit. Thanks also to Norman Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol' 2.


Left: Interior shot at Runnymede War Memorial

KTY - 18.02.2016 Updated

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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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