Cole, Richard Martyn
Killed in Action 1944-07-24
Birth Date: 1922-April-08
Born: Hamilton Ontario
Home: Hamilton, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
226 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Non Sibi Sed Patriae For country not for self
Base
RAF Hartford Bridge
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Position
Flight Sergeant
Service Numbers
R/186051
Home
Hamilton, Ontario
Target
Caen, France
First Burial
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, Uk
Took off from Hartford Bridge to bomb enemy troop concentrations south of Caen, France.
While over France the aircraft was hit by flak. The pilot nursed the aircraft over the Channel, then ordered the crew to bale out.
Killed includes Cole:Flying Officer Gordon Arnold Green RCAF J/29232 KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 246.Flying Officer Leonard William Pattyson RCAF J/35167 KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 247.Flying Officer William Henry James Mills RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 208.
Sergeant John P Werbowecki RCAF, the navigator was the only crew member picked up by a rescue launch.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comMitchell Mitchell II series ii FW210
Bombing 1944-July-24 to 1944-July-24
() Sqn (RAF) Hartford Bridge
Ramrod
Mitchell aircraft FW 210 was hit by flak during a bombing operation against enemy troop concentrations south of Caen, France. The crew was forced to bail out over the English Channel west of Brest, France. F/Os G. Green and L.W. Pattyson were also killed. One Canadian member of the crew states he was the first out of the aircraft and saw three other parachutes. Air-sea rescue stated there were other boats in the vicinity that might have picked up the others who bailed out.
12 Mitchell.II aircraft of 226 Squadron in company with 48 MITCHELLS from 139 WING were detailed to attack Wood U1160, containing a large concentration of troops, heavy and mobile guns. All aircraft did not bomb. The first box was unable to bomb, owing to the navigator of the lead aircraft being wounded on the bombing run and aircraft No.2 became out of control, with its port engine on fire. The second box was unable to bomb, owing to the G.H. operator of the leading aircraft being off track. 1 aircraft is missing, the crew baling out 30 to 40 miles N of CAEN and were seen to take to their K type dinghies, 1 Navigator was wounded in another aircraft. 1 aircraft landed in the beachead at B5. 4 aircraft received minor damage from flak. Very intense and accurate flak over the target area.
source: RAF Squadron 226 Operating Record Book
Mitchell FW210
North American Mitchell B-25 B-25D B-25J
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.
The North American B-25 Mitchell was flown by the RCAF during and after the Second World War. The RCAF flew the B-25 Mitchell for training during the war and continued flying operations after the war, in Canada with most of 162 Mitchells received. The first B-25s had originally been diverted to Canada from RAF orders. These included one Mitchell Mk. I, 42 Mitchell Mk. IIs, and 19 Mitchell Mk. IIIs. No 13 (P) Squadron was formed unofficially at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in May 1944 and flew Mitchell Mk. IIs on high-altitude aerial photography sorties. No. 5 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, operated the B-25D Mitchell in a training role together with B-24 Liberators for Heavy Conversion as part of the BCATP. The RCAF retained the Mitchell until October 1963.
No. 418 (Auxiliary) Squadron received its first Mitchell Mk. IIs in January 1947. It was followed by No. 406 (Auxiliary), which flew Mitchell Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs from April 1947 to June 1958. No. 418 Operated a mix of Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs until March 1958. No. 12 Squadron of Air Transport Command also flew Mitchell Mk. IIIs along with other types from September 1956 to November 1960. In 1951, the RCAF received an additional 75 B-25Js from USAF stocks to make up for attrition and to equip various second-line units..Wikipedia and Harold Skaarup web page
Mitchell Bomber
Wikipedia Mitchell Bomber 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page Mitchell FW210 Mitchell II series ii - Bombing - 1944-07-24 to 1944-07-24
6 Group Unavailable
Mitchell aircraft FW 210 was hit by flak during a bombing operation against enemy troop concentrations south of Caen, France. The crew was forced to bail out over the English Channel west of Brest, France. F/Os G. Green and L.W. Pattyson were also killed. One Canadian member of the crew states he was the first out of the aircraft and saw three other parachutes. Air-sea rescue stated there were other boats in the vicinity that might have picked up the others who bailed out.
12 Mitchell.II aircraft of 226 Squadron in company with 48 MITCHELLS from 139 WING were detailed to attack Wood U1160, containing a large concentration of troops, heavy and mobile guns. All aircraft did not bomb. The first box was unable to bomb, owing to the navigator of the lead aircraft being wounded on the bombing run and aircraft No.2 became out of control, with its port engine on fire. The second box was unable to bomb, owing to the G.H. operator of the leading aircraft being off track. 1 aircraft is missing, the crew baling out 30 to 40 miles N of CAEN and were seen to take to their K type dinghies, 1 Navigator was wounded in another aircraft. 1 aircraft landed in the beachead at B5. 4 aircraft received minor damage from flak. Very intense and accurate flak over the target area.
source: RAF Squadron 226 Operating Record Book