Cruickshank, Charles Edward
Killed in Action 1945-02-11

Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Charles & Agnes Cruickshank.
Home: Vancouver, British Columbia
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
423 Sqn- Squadron
Quaerimus Et Petimus We search and strike
Base
Castle Archdale, Fermaugh, Northern Ireland.
Rank
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Position
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Service Numbers
R/58082
Aircraft was on an anti-sub patrol when a fire started behind the fire wall of the port outer engine.
The aircraft almost made it 'home', but crashed on the Dromore Road three miles east of Irvinestown, Fermanagh Northern Ireland.
Killed:Warrant Officer Class 2 Charles Edward Cruickshank RCAF R/58082 KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 65.Pilot Officer Jack Gingrich RCAF R/222058 KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 66.Flying Officer Terence Ramsay Hailstone RCAF J/35173 pilot KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 60.Warrant Officer Class 2 Edward Frederick Knibbs RCAF R/184884 KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 64.Flying Officer John Alexander McLennan RCAF J/26824 pilot KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 61.F/Lt John David Ross RCAF J/12298 KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 62.Flying Officer James Robert Seeger RCAF J/28722 pilot KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland, Plot 2. Grave 59.Warrant Officer Class 1 Jean Marie Soucie RCAF R/117426 KIA Sacred Heart RC Church, Irvinestown, Grave 9.Flying Officer Morley Wilbee RCAF J/35193 KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland Plot 2. Grave 58.Flight Sergeant Cyril Ramsden RAF KIA Scartho Road Cemetery, Grimsby, Sec. 116. Row A. Grave 15.Flight Sergeant Philip Woollatt RAF KIA Irvinestown Church Of Ireland Plot 2. Grave 67.
Sunderland NJ183
Short Sunderland

Short Sunderland, coded Z, 15 Apr 1943
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North East England.
Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). As designed, it served as a successor to the earlier Short Sarafand flying boat. Sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced aerodynamic hull and was outfitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including machine gun turrets, bombs, aerial mines, and depth charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial engines and was outfitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the ASV Mark II and ASV Mark III radar units, and an astrodome.
The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War. In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic.Wikipedia
YouTube Short Sunderland (1940-1949)
423 Sqn Quaerimus Et Petimus ()
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Sunderland III, Liberator VI, VII)

The squadron was formed as a General Reconnaissance unit at Oban, Scotland , on 18 May 1942. It was the RCAF's 21st, and sixth and last Coastal squadron formed overseas in WWII. The unit flew Short Sunderland flying boats as convoy escorts and on anti-U-boat missions. It remained at Oban until November 1942, when it transferred to Castle Archdale in Northern Ireland
.
When hostilities terminated in Europe, the squadron was re-designated as a Transport unit and was slated to move to the Far East as part of the "Tiger Force" that was assembling to carry on the war with Japan. To this end, the squadron was equipped with Consolidated Liberator aircraft, but the termination of hostilities with Japan meant that the squadron was no longer required in the transport role, and it was disbanded at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England , on September 4, 1945.
The squadron claimed the sinking of a number of U-boats. Flight Lieutenant J. Musgrave and crew shared with destroyers HMCS Drumheller and HMS Lagan the sinking of what was thought to be U-456 on May 12, 1943 (later research established that the U-boat sunk was U-753, see link below). On August 4, 1943, Flying Officer A.A. Bishop and crew sank U-489; on October 8. 1943 Flying Officer A.H. Russell and crew sank U-610; on April 24, 1944 Flying Officer F.G. Fellows and crew sank U-311 (later research showed that the boat attacked was U672, see link below, and that it was damaged but not sunk); on September 11, 1944 it was claimed that Flying Officer J.N. Farren and crew shared in the sinking of U-484 with HMCS Dunver and HMCS Hespeler. Later research showed that this was probably a non-submarine target (see link below). In the course of the war, the squadron won 4 DFCs and 1 DFM. Battle Honours were: Atlantic 1942-45, English Channel and North Sea 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Biscay 1944.Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin, uboat.net
Maps for Movements of 423 Squadron 1942-45
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423 Squadron History Summary 1942-45

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Canuck 3B & 4B, Sea King, Cyclone)
The squadron was re-formed on 1 June 1953 at RCAF Station St Hubert, Quebec

