Operation: Ramrod

Date: 25th August 1944 (Friday)

Unit: No. 164 Squadron 123 Wing, 84 Group, 02nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: MN588

Code: FJ-?

Base: RAF Martragny (Forward Landing base B.7)

Location: North of Rouen, France.

Pilot: F/O. George Raymond Trafford NZ/412001 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

After taking off at 18:55 hrs from the ALG in France with seven others from the Squadron, thought to have been brought down by anti-aircraft fire near the village of Fresquienne, France.

One of three Typhoons lost this day from the Squadron whilst attacking tanks and military transport with rockets.

164 Squadron Typhoons in France (courtesy IWM)

The others lost:

Typhoon Ib PD457 Flown by 29 year old, Sq/Ldr. Ian Dousland Waddy DFC NZ/482915 RNZAF taken PoW - passed away on the 16th September 1998, age 83. Buried at Awatere Cemetery, Marlborough, New Zealand.

Typhoon Ib MN711 Flown by 21 year old, Fl/Sgt. Ronald Albert Edward White 1323288 RAFVR - Killed, see burial details below also further details here.

Sq/Ldr. Waddy DFC citation LG 17th March 1944:

"This officer has participated in a large number of sorties, including very many attacks on shipping. Squadron Leader Waddy has led the squadron with great skill, courage and determination and has played a good part in the numerous successes obtained. He has invariably pressed home his attacks with great determination, setting a fine example to all".

Grave and the monument the French built for F/O. Trafford in the Churchyard (courtesy Kate Tame)

Burial Details:

F/O. George Raymond Trafford. Fresquienne Churchyard, France. Born on the 10th April 1921 at Gisborne, the son of Margrave Thomas Trafford and Henrietta Maria Trafford (née Beatson), of Gisborne, Auckland, New Zealand, husband of Daphne Audrey Trafford (née De Barre), of Hangaroa, Auckland.

Fl/Sgt. Ronald Albert Edward White. St. Sever Cemetery Extension. Block "S". Plot 4. Row P. Grave 8. Son of Frederick James White and Matilda Ada White, of Tilbury, Essex, England. Grave inscription reads: "Nobly Answering Duty's Call, He Gave His Life For One And All. Rest In Peace".

Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied, Kate Tame for her brilliant photographs, also to our Jenifer Lemaire from New Zealand for pilot photograph and the Auckland Image Collection.

Licence No: Auckland Library Heritage Collection: 15 November 1944. Ref: AWNS191115-27-1.

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