AOP (Air Observation Post) Squadron Casualties

Who can help me to find relatives of Raymond?

 

Hi oldbaldy, could youi please be so kind to contact me via h.ooms@hotmail.com
Thanks in advance.

Hans

 

hello Hans
Oldbaldy has not been on the forum for over 3 years
I have sent him a message if he is still using the same email address he should reply

also take the @ out of your email and replace with AT
Regards
Clive

 

Hi Hans,
What is you want?

 

Any chance we can have a chat about this please?

 

I've trawled this thread and it is a superb collation and roll of honour. I know you have most of these men from 652 AOP Sqn RAF, but I think you haven't yet captured Maj Loveridge at the bottom of the list.

Shot down
•126219 CAPTAIN ERIC VINCENT PUGH, Royal Artillery 51 Heavy Regt attd. 652 A.O.P. Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Died 10 June 1944 Age 32 years old. BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY XI. F. 7. France
•224888 CAPTAIN LESLIE VANN Royal Artillery attd. 652 A.O.P. Sqdn. Royal Air Force, Died 13 June 1944 Age 22 years old. RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY VIII. E. 26. France.
•1536278 LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN GEORGE THOMAS ATKINSON Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 652 Sqdn. Died 13 June 1944 Age 23 years old. RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY VIII. E. 27. France
Reported to have been hit by a V bomb whilst driving in a convoy
•1134016 BOMBARDIER KENNETH ALBERT STRAUCH Royal Artillery attd. 652 A.O.P. Sqdn. Royal Air Force Died 15 March 1945 Age 22 years old. GOIRLE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY Row 3. Grave 6. Netherlands.
Reason for death unknown
•88641 MAJOR MICHAEL ARTHUR LOVERIDGE DFC, Royal Artillery attd. 652 A.O.P. Sqdn. Royal Air Force, Died 10 October 1946 Age 27 years old. HANOVER WAR CEMETERY 14. H. 13. Germany

 

Do you have the rest of the War Diary for 662 AOP Sqn specifically the 17 Mar 44? It would be great to name and grave location of the Gunner Driver killed referenced in the narrative in this post.

 

I've just stumbled upon this site 19.05.1940 145 Squadron Hurricane I N2598 Plt Off. Kenneth Lucas, RAF Manston, Warlot-Baillon, France

Which provides a narrative of the situation and occurrence of Capt David Pinkney RA (att'd 662 AOP Sqn RAF) death whilst conducting a recce of a foward ALG as well as this picture of a memorial erected by locals from Warlot-Baillon in 2004.

 

Sorry I have just landed on this thread. Has anyone on here read "Unarmed Into Battle" by Major General H. J. Parnham and E.M.G Belfield.
If not, it is really a must regarding AOP. The RAF Journal (amongst others) refers to it.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-54.pdf
The Contents include a Roll of Honour (by name only, no other details) which might be of interest along with much other information including a list of all the Officers who qualified as AOP Pilots up to VJ Day 1945.

 

a french link Recherche de France-Crashes 39-45
his plane crash near Reviers or La Cambe : At around 5 p.m. at La Cambe (14) during an artillery adjustment, the plane was spotted because of its white identification bands and pursued by 6 Me109s; on the third pass it was shot down.