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Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) (RAF(VR)) Officers
1939-1945

 

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Ratcliffe,
Edward Lloyd George
E.L.G. Ratcliffe
Son of Herbert Edward and Elizabeth Ratcliffe.
Husband of Elizabeth Ann Ratcliffe, of Treorchy, Glamorgan.
(03?).1913
Worksop district, Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire / Yorkshire - West Riding
-
19.02.1943
(KIA) [age 30]
[Ameland (Nes) General Cemetery, the Netherlands, D.13.17]
Sgt.
? [657065]
P/O (prob)
14.03.1942 [118621]
(WS) F/O (prob)
01.10.1942
14.03.1942


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
19.02.1943
navigator, 15 Squadron RAF
[
taken off from Bourn at 17.50 hrs in his Stirling III [BF457 LS-B] for an operation against Wilhelmshaven; crashed with loss of the complete crew at 21.00 hrs on Ameland, some 5 km East of Buren in an area known locally as the Nijlandsrijd, after being shot down by Oberleutnant Hans Joachim Jabs of IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1]
Ratut,
Hyam Ivor
H.I. Ratut
From London.
?
-
(A) P/O (prob)
01.06.1940 [79973]
P/O (prob)
14.10.1940
P/O
01.06.1941
(WS) F/O
14.10.1941
(T) F/Lt.
01.01.1944
F/Lt.
? (reld 10.08.1954; retaining rank of F/Lt.)
01.06.1940


commissioned, RAFVR (Equipment Branch) [emergency commission]
24.08.1940
 
 
transferred, Administrative and Special Duties Branch
01.02.1942
 
 
transferred, RAF Regiment
(05.1945)


Commander of No. 1 Flight from Biggin Hill at the Thanksgiving Parade at St. Paul's Cathedral
Company director (Ragamuffin Ltd., 1970s).
Richardson,
Anthony Thomas Stewart Currie
A.T.S.C. Richardson
(12?).1899
Kensington district, Greater London
-
P/O (prob)
18.06.1940 [80934]
(WS) F/O (prob)
20.01.1941
(WS) F/O
18.06.1941
(T) F/Lt.
01.09.1942 (emgcy) (reld 10.02.1954)
Education: Marlborough College.
18.06.1940


commissioned, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) (for administrative duties) [emergency commission]
Newspaperman & author.
Published
: Ransom (1925); High silver (1926); Barbury witch : a novel (1927); Transgressor (1928); Milord and I (1931); City of the rose (1933); Golden empire (1938); Because of these : verses of the Royal Air Force (1942); These - our children (1943); Full cycle (1946); Wingless victory : the story of Sir Basil Embry’s escape from occupied France in the summer of 1940 (1950) [US ed.: Alone he went (1951)]; The crowded hours : the story of "Sos" Cohen (1952); Nick of the River : the story of detective inspector David Herbert Cyril Nixon, late of the Thames Division, Metropolitan Police (1955); Ona man and his dog (1960); No place to lay my head (1957); Nick of Notting Hill, the bearded policeman : the story of Police Constable J. Nixon, F. 166 of the Metropolitan Police (1965).
Richardson,
Selwyn
S. Richardson
?
-
F/Sgt.
? [1230989]
P/O (prob)
06.09.1943 [158546]
P/O
06.03.1944, seniority 06.09.1943
(WS) F/O
06.03.1944
(WS) F/Lt.
06.09.1945
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
14.11.1944
?
Distinguished Flying Medal DFM
12.11.1943
?
06.09.1943


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1943)
 
 
77 Squadron RAF
(1944)
 
 
692 Squadron RAF
 
Rideal,
Eric Chichester
E.C. Rideal E.C. Rideal
Elder son of Cdr. Leonard Chichester Rideal (1891-1966), and his Swedish spouse, of Cornwall Gardens, London SW.
Married (1948?) Anne-Marie Callet, only daughter of the late M.E. Callet and Mme M. Callet, of St Quentin, France; ... children (one son?).
23.06.1920
-
24.12.2006
Mayday hospital, Croydon
Acm. 1st cl. ? [1026820]
(A) P/O (prob) 07.01.1942, seniority 04.10.1941 [115443]
P/O (prob) 07.03.1942, seniority 04.12.1941
(WS) F/O (prob) 01.10.1942
(WS) F/Lt. 20.07.1946
F/Lt. 01.11.1947, seniority 01.09.1945
(A) Sq.Ldr. ?
F/Lt. RAF 08.11.1948, seniority 07.01.1948
Sq.Ldr. RAF 01.01.1956 (retd 23.06.1969)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military  Division) OBE 01.01.1949 New Year 49
Education: Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1939).
07.01.1942     commissioned, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1944)     served as Intelligence Officer
(08.1945)     Officer-in-Charge, No. 5 (Holland) Section, Missing Research and Enquiry Service, RAF, British Liberation Army (The Hague, Holland)
08.11.1948     permanent commission, RAF
30.05.1949     transferred, RAF (Secretarial Branch)
(1950)     Adjutant, Western Union Examining Squadron (RAF Little Rissington, Gloucestershire)
26.11.1967 - 29.01.1968 Station Commander, RAF Hendon
Ridgway,
George Fideles
G.F. Ridgway (Photo courtesy of Len Lanigan)
Son of John and Mary Ridgway.
Husband of June Ridgway, of Oxford.
23.03.1905
Cork, Southern Ireland
-
14.10.1946
(died of carcinomatosis) [age 40]
[Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, plot H/3, grave 176]
Sgt.
? [358826]
P/O (prob)
15.08.1940, seniority 25.07.1940 [83486]
P/O
15.08.1941, seniority 25.07.1941
(WS) F/O
15.08.1941, seniority 25.07.1941
(T) F/Lt.
01.09.1942
(WS) F/Lt.
05.01.1945
(A) Sq.Ldr.
?
15.08.1940


commissioned, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
 
Roberts,
Eric Robert Alfred
E.R.A. Roberts E.R.A. Roberts
E.R.A. Roberts E.R.A. Roberts (Photo courtesy of 609 (West Riding) Sqn RAuxAF website)
Married ((12?).1945, Surrey Mid Eastern district) Eleanor C. Gregor.

609 (West Riding) Sqn RAuxAF website

(03?).1922
Richmond district, Surrey
-
Ldg.Acm. ? [1181896]
P/O (prob) 01.07.1941 [100070]
P/O 01.07.1942
(WS) F/O 01.07.1942
(WS) F/Lt. 01.07.1943
(A?) Sq.Ldr. 1944?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC 05.09.1944 *
* This officer is a most efficient and devoted flight commander. He has participated in very many attacks on targets such as enemy/shipping, airfields and mechanical transport with good results. His keenness and determination throughout have been most commendable.
01.07.1941     commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
      flew Beaufighters
02.1943 - 09.03.1945 609 Squadron RAF
1944? - 1944? Adjutant
06.12.1944 - 09.03.1945 Commanding Officer
[09.03.1945 at 16.55 while on a mission against barges moored off the north coast of the island of Overflakkee the engine of his Typhoon IB [SW447] lost power and was force-landed south-west of Achthuizen, near Sommelsdijk, Goeree-Overflakkee, the Netherlands; captured]
09.03.1945 - 05?.1945 POW in German captivity
Post-war a pilot with British European Airways.
Roberts,
John Charles
J.C. Roberts
?
-
(A) P/O (prob)
01.08.1941 [103296]
P/O (prob)
18.09.1941
P/O
01.08.1942
(WS) F/O
18.09.1942
(T) F/Lt.
01.01.1944, seniority 01.07.1943
(WS) F/Lt.
13.09.1945 (emgcy list) (reld 10.02.1954; retaining rank of Sq.Ldr.)
01.08.1941


commissioned, RAFVR (Equipment Branch) [emergency commission]



served No 39 Squadron, No 32 ASP, No 3 Brick Unit, No 4 Beach Unit, No 68 Beach Unit, AD Wing
 
Robinson,
Henry
H. Robinson
?
-
P/O (prob) 26.10.1940 [87262]
(WS) F/O 08.03.1942
(WS) F/Lt. 08.03.1943 (emgcy list) (reld 10.02.1954; retaining rank of Sq.Ldr.)
Military Medal MM ? ?
26.10.1940

commission, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
08.03.1941     transferred, RAFVR (Technical Branch)
 
Robinson,
Patrick John Noble
P.J.N. Robinson
Son of R.Adm. Eric Gascoigne Robinson, VC, OBE, and of Edith Gladys Robinson (née Cordeux), of Langrish, Hampshire.
(09?).1914
Basford district, Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire
-
25.06.1942
(KIA) [age 28]
[Sage War Cemetery, Germany, 1.F.15]
Ldg. Acm.
? [1176945]
P/O (prob)
13.09.1941 [108240]
13.09.1941


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
25.06.1942
observer, 102 Squadron RAF
[his Halifax II bomber [R9446 DY-F] had taken off 22.58 hrs from Topcliffe for an operation against Bremen and was presumed lost over the sea]
 
Ross,
David Gordon
"Bill"
M. Ross
Son of Lt. Frederick Gordon Ross, Manchester Regt. (killed in action in France, 1st July, 1916), and of Kathleen Ross, of Warninglid, Sussex.
(09?.)1904
MacClesfield, Cheshire
-
02.05.1942
(KIA) [age 37]
[Cambridge Crematorium, column 2]
(A) P/O (prob)
19.07.1940 [82429]
F/O (prob)
?
F/O
19.07.1941
(A) F/Lt.
?
19.07.1940


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
02.05.1942
65 Squadron RAF
[flying accident *]
* They (F/Lt. D.G. Ross & Sq.Ldr. H.T. Gilbert) took off from Great Sampford, the Debden satellite, having consumed 6-8 bottles each of Benskins Colne Springs beer, according to the licensee of the pub. This info was not revealed until after the Court of Enquiry. The CO tried to borrow a Magister but his flight sergeant, realising that he was in no fit state to fly, told him it was u/s. The CO then took a Spitfire.
Ross,
Douglas Alan Barry
D.A.B. Ross
Married ((12?).1940, Cheltenham district, Gloucestershire) Mrs ... Gray (née Ruston).
?
-

Sgt.
? [741889]
P/O (prob)
01.11.1940, seniority 23.10.1940 [87032]
(WS) F/O
01.11.1941, seniority 23.10.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
01.11.1942, seniority 23.10.1942 (reld 30.11.1945, retaining rank of Sq.Ldr.)
(T) Sq.Ldr.
1944?
01.11.1940


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1941)
 
 
600 Squadron RAF
Ross,
Maurice
M. Ross
1910
-
12.03.2007
[aged 96]
(A) P/O (prob)
14.01.1942, seniority 16.12.1941 [115891]
...
...
F/Lt.
? (retd 17.08.1955; retianing the rank of Sq.Ldr.)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
?
?
Education: BSc
14.01.1942


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
Ross,
Nicoll Ramsay
"Nicky"
N.R. Ross

01.08.1917
Greenock
-
18.04.2008
Lasswade
Wt.Offr.
? [754544]
P/O (prob)
02.06.1943 [158240]
P/O
02.12.1943
(WS) F/O
02.12.1943
(WS) F/Lt.
02.06.1945
F/O
18.11.1948
F/Lt.
31.03.1951 (reld 18.11.1958)
Distinguished Service Order DSO
29.08.1944
*
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
13.07.1943
**
Air Efficiency Award AEA
?
?
* This officer has completed a very large number of sorties and the successes obtained are a fine testimony to his great skill, courage and resolution. He is a model captain, whose strong sense of, duty, gallantry and resource have set an example of the highest order.
** W/O Ross now on his second tour of operational duty, has
taken part in a large number of operational series. An excellent captain of aircraft, in the face of heavy odds, he has shown courage and determination of a high order, and has secured some excellent photographs.
07.1939
 
 
joined RAFVR
02.1941


40 Squadron RAF
01.1943


103 Squadron RAF
02.06.1943


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
10.1943


617 Squadron RAF
18.11.1948
-
18.11.1958
commissioned, Reconstituted RAFVR (General Duties Branch)
Worked with the Bank of Scotland.
Rowntree,
John Peter
J.P. Rowntree
Son of John Ernest Rowntree (1897-1967), and Dorothy Pamphilon (1893-1953).
(12?).1920
Paddington district, London
-
10.10.1941
(MPK) [age 20]
[Alamein Memorial, Egypt, column 241]
Sgt. ? [745381]
P/O (prob) 27.07.1940 [82704]
(WS) F/O 27.07.1941
Worked at Martins Bank Ltd.
27.07.1940     commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
? - 10.10.1941 203 Squadron RAF [missing, presumed killed whilst flying in Blenheim IV]
Royle,
Vernon
V. Royle
Eldest son of Mr & Mrs J. Royle, of Burnley.
?
-
Sgt.
? [979241]
P/O (prob)
05.04.1943 [144883]
(WS) F/O (prob)
05.010.1943
(WS) F/Lt.
05.04.1945
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
16.11.1943
* [investiture 11.45]
05.04.1943


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1943)


flight engineer, 10 Squadron RAF
Returned as engineer at Platers & Stampers Burnley post-war.
* On the night of July 27th 1943, P O Royle was detailed as flight engineer of a Halifax bomber for a raid over Hamburg. When crossing the enemy coast his aircraft was attacked by 5 JU88’s and was shot up, the rear gunner being killed and the port outer engine set on fire. The fire was extinguished and the plane carried on. Within 60 miles of the target the bomber flew into heavy AA fire and received a direct hit causing the wing to catch fire. Another direct hit ripped away the front part of the plane killing the bomb-aimer, navigator and wireless operator and severely wounding the pilot. P O Royle pulled the pilot from his seat and although the aircraft was by now practically out of control at 2500 feet high with only two engines serviceable he would not bail out. This gallant officer regained control of the crippled bomber and headed it towards the target a few miles away shouting, according to the words of the mid-upper-gunner who had now come forward to help’, “I’ll prang that target or die in the attempt”. The bombing run was made at 1500 feet P O Royle then headed the plane for the coast flying at tree top height all the way, when about half way across the North Sea the crippled plane was spotted by another homebound bomber which promptly proceeded to act as escort and sent out an SOS. They managed to reach base but P O Royle and a gunner were told it would be suicidal to try and land in their condition. They steadfastly refused to leave the plane however and it crash landed on a runway. P O Royle and his gunner escaped unhurt.
Rudge,
James Charles
J.C. Rudge (Photo courtesy of D.S. Loyd)
Son of ... Rudge, and .... Heath.
Married Joan ...; no children.
18.11.1911
Chiswick, Brentford district, London / Middlesex
-
01.1991
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Ldg.Acm.
? [1808625]
P/O (prob)
11.02.1944 [163978]
(WS) F/O
11.08.1944
(WS) F/Lt.
11.02.1946 (emgcy list) (reld 18.11.1956; retaining rank of F/Lt.)
11.02.1944


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
After leaving the service he continued as before the war as an Ice Skating Instructor and until retirement he taught at Queens Ice Rink, Bayswater Road, London.
Rudolf,
John De Montjoie
J. De M. Rudolf
Son of Edward Arthur De Montjoie Rudolf and Maude Lilian Weterhall Rudolf, of Sidcup. Grandson of Edward De Montjoie Rudolf, founder of the Waifs and Strays (now Children's Society).
Married ((03?).1934, Camberwell district, Surrey) of Violet Vaughan, of Sidcup.
(06?).1912
Bromley district, London
-
14.09.1943
[age 31]
[Sidcup (St John) Churchyard, Kent, row 3, grave 6]
Sgt. ? [1381845]
P/O (prob) 31.01.1942 [123463]
(WS) F/O 01.10.1942
31.01.1942     commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
? - 14.09.1943 flying instructor
Russum,
Kenneth
K. Russum
12.10.1922
-
24.02.2007
Kingham, Oxfordshire
[aged 84]

Wt.Off..
? [1211080]
P/O (prob)
09.09.1944 [189214]
P/O
09.03.1945
(WS) F/O
09.03.1945
F/O
09.09.1945
...
...
W/Cdr.
01.01.1968 (retd 25.03.1977)
Air Force Cross AFC
?
?
09.09.1944


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
15.08.1946


extended service



permanent commission
Rutherford,
Norman Bayne
N.B. Rutherford
Son of George William Ewart Gladstone Rutherford (1886-1955), and Elizabeth Murray Hanlin (1887-1969).
Married (15.06.1938) Anita Ann Delamere Rutherford (1919-1993); one daughter.
16.12.1912
Sydney, NSW, Australia
-
18.09.1944
(KIA) [age 31]
[Becklingen War Cemetery, joint grave 24.B.14]

Sgt.
? [930212]
P/O (prob)
08.06.1941 [68194]
P/O
08.06.1942, seniority 08.06.1941
(WS) F/O
08.06.1942
(WS) F/Lt.
08.06.1943
Air Force Cross AFC
31.03.1944
? [decoration posted to next-of-kin]
08.06.1941


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
18.09.1944
pilot, 627 Squadron RAF
[airborne in Mosquito DZ635 AZ-N at 19.03 hrs from Woodhall Spa for an operation against Bremerhaven; cause of loss not established; crashed 22.10 hrs, four minutes after 57 Squadron Lancaster, at Schiffdorf on the eastern outskirts of Bremerhaven]
Rutherford,
Robert Henry
N.B. Rutherford
Son of Samuel William and Pauline Annie Rutherford.
1923 ?
-
22.07.1943
[age 20]
[Bangor Cemetery, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, section 2H, grave 166]]

Ldg.Acm.
? [1479900]
P/O (prob)
06.11.1942 [133718]
(WS) F/O (prob)
06.05.1943
06.11.1942


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
-
22.07.1943
navigator, 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
[Stirling I bomber W7586 -C took off from Stradishall for a trainig flight, but stalled and crashed at 17:46 hrs while attempting to go round again from a three-engined approach.]
Ryan,
Thomas Davis
"Tommy"
T.D. Ryan (Photo courtesy of Mr Simon Weir) T.D. Ryan (Photo courtesy of Mr Simon Weir)
?
Glasgow
-
F/O 01.04.1943 [140538]
(T) F/Lt. 29.03.1944
F/Lt. 01.03.1955 (reld 19.11.1961)
Education: MA.
01.04.1943     commissioned, RAFVR (Meteorological Branch) [emergency commission]
19.11.1951     commissioned, RAFVR (Reconstituted Section) (Meteorological Branch)
       

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