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Squance, John Martyn (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1945-February-11

Male Head

Birth Date: 1924 (age 21)

Son of the Reverend Arthur Henry Plantagenet Squance, MA, and Mary Beatrice Squance, of Sampford Courtenay Rectory, Devon

Home: Devon, England

Service
RAFVR
Unit
45 Group (RAF)
Base
Dorval, Quebec
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
153549

Mosquito B.Mk. 25 KB370

Ferry Flight 1945-February-04 to 1945-February-11

45 (T) Group (RAF) Dorval, Quebec

45 Group RAF Transport Command, Dorval, Quebec. Mosquito aircraft KB 370 missing on a flight between Bluie West 1, Greenland and Reykjavik, Iceland with the loss of the two man crew, cause unknown

Navigator Flying Officer GM Maxon (RCAF) and Pilot, Flying Officer JM Squance (RAFVR) were both missing, presumed killed in this flying accident

The missing have no known grave but are both commemorated, Flying Officer Maxon on the Ottawa Memorial and Flying Officer Squance on the Runnymede Memorial

Ocean bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie page 230-4, 327

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Aviation Safety Network

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Home
Google MapDevon, England
Burial
Google MapRunnymede Memorial Surrey
Panel 268

Mosquito KB370

de Havilland Mosquito

(British Aerospace photo) (Source Bomber Command Museum of Canada)

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood. Nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, it was affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. The total number of DH98 Mosquito aircraft built was 7,781, the type serving with the main Allied air forces, including both the United States and Russia.

When Mosquito production began in 1941 it was the fastest propeller driven operational aircraft in the world. The first variant was an unarmed, high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito's use evolved during the war into many roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, and maritime strike aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side, but a single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary.

The Mosquito FB Mk. VI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho, an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters). On the 10th anniversary of the Nazi' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Goering was speaking, putting his speech off the air. Goering later said: "It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops."

The Mosquito flew with the RCAF and other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theatres. After the end of the Second World War Spartan Air Services flew 10 ex-RAF Mosquitoes, mostly B.35's plus one of only six PR.35's built, for high-altitude photographic survey work in Canada. There are approximately 30 non-flying Mosquitos around the world with five airworthy examples, three in the United States, one in Canada and one in New Zealand. Harold Skaarup web page and Wikipedia

YouTube Mosquito

Museum BAE Systems (formerly De Havilland)

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mosquito

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications USAAF F-8 Mosquito Serial Numbers

RCAF Roundel Mosquitos shipped to Taiwanese Airforce

last update: 2024-04-16 00:21:24

Mosquito B.Mk. 25 KB370

Crashed at Amherst, NS on 4 February 1945, following wing failure in a steep low level turn. 2 fatalities.

1944-07-26 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1944-12-04 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
1945-February-11 Accident: 45 GROUP Loc: North Atlantic Names: Maxon | Squance
1945-02-11 Accident Crash on ferry flight between B.W.1. and Reykjavik

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