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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 Squadron Crest
26.07.1942 No 401 Squadron Spitfire Vb BM429 P/O. J.R. Tucker

Operation: Rodeo

Date: 26th July 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 401 Squadron (The Rams)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BM429

Code: YO-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: English Channel

Pilot: P/O. John Richards Tucker J/7448 RCAF Age 21. Missing believed killed


We are extremely grateful to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist) for supplying photographs and information to Aircrew Remembered in October 2017. All photographs shown within this page are available to relatives at a higher resolution (as are most of those named within this page) - courtesy of François.


REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part in a Rodeo during the afternoon when he was attacked by units from JG26. He attempted to return back to England with his damaged aircraft but was lost over the English Channel.

Left: P/O. John Tucker with Sgt. Alexander Blakey - Sgt. Blakey was killed earlier that year on the 09th March 1942 in Spitfire BL538, buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Spitfire BM429 had previously been involved in a crash landing at Shoreham on the 06th May 1942. The pilot at that time had been Fl/Lt. Donald Robert Morrison who survived with no injuries (later shot down - repatriated) This was the last Spitfire Vb lost from 401 Squadron - they moved over to the Spitfire IX the following day.

Burial details:

P/O. John Richards Tucker. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 101. Son of George Richards Tucker and Christina Elizabeth Tucker, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil and sources as quoted below:

KTY - 15.10.2017

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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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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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Last Modified: 19 March 2021, 10:39

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