William Arthur Cuddie

Killed in Action 1943-October-03

Male Head

Birth Date: 1920

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home: Regina, Saskatchewan

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

46 (FB) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
We Rise To Conquer

Base

RAF Cos, Greece

Rank

Squadron Leader

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

42806

Home

Regina, Saskatchewan

Memorial Location

Alamein War Memorial
Column 267

Cuddle took off from Cos to attack an enemy shipping convoy in the seas nearby.

They returned to the aerodrome, re-fueled and re-armed, and returned to continue the attack on the convoy.

Killed: Flying Officer Leonard Edward Morgan Coote RAF KIA Alamein Memorial, Column 267. Squadron Leader William Arthur Cuddie RAF KIA Alamein Memorial, Column 267.

During the same operation, W/C GA Reid (RAF)(Can) was also missing, presumed killed in another 49 Squadron Beaufighter, JM 238. Both airmen were trained pilots and navigators. Squadron Leader Cuddie and W/C Reid had both flown in the Battle of Britain. Cuddie flew Defiant aircraft with 141 Squadron and Reid flew Spitfire aircraft with 602 Squadron

unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Beaufighter serial: JL907

RCAF Photo (Source Harold A Skaarup web page)
Bristol Beaufighter, coded PN-B.

The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter (often referred to simply as the "Beau") was a multi-role aircraft developed during the Second World War in the UK. It was originally conceived as a heavy fighter variant of the Bristol Beaufort bomber. Upon its entry to service, the Beaufighter proved to be well suited to the night fighter role, for which the RAF initially deployed the type during the height of the Battle of Britain, in part due to its large size allowing it to accommodate both heavy armaments and early airborne interception radar without major performance penalties.

As its wartime service continued, the Beaufighter was used in many different roles; receiving the nicknames Rockbeau for its use as a rocket-armed ground attack aircraft, and Torbeau in its role as a torpedo bomber against Axis shipping, in which it came to replace the Beaufort which had preceded it. In later operations, it served mainly as a maritime strike/ground attack aircraft, RAF Coastal Command having operated the largest number of Beaufighters amongst all other commands at one point.

The Beaufighter saw extensive service during the war with the RAF (59 squadrons), Fleet Air Arm (15 squadrons), RAAF (seven squadrons), RCAF (four squadrons), USAAF (four squadrons), RNZAF (two squadrons), SAAF (two squadrons) and the Free Polish Air Force (one squadron). In addition, variants of the Beaufighter were also manufactured in Australia by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP), often called the DAP Beaufighter. n the fall of 1940, Luftwaffe bombers, unable to escape Allied fighters by day, started flying night missions, where they would encounter much less opposition. Immediately, the Allies prepared their response: the improvement of interception radars used in ground controls, the use of twin-engine Bristol Beaufighters as night-fighter aircraft, and the development of the Mk. IV airborne interception radar. Faster than a Junkers Ju 88, the Beaufighter displayed impressive firepower. Three RCAF squadrons were involved in night fighter operations, Nos. 406, 409 and 410, created in the spring and summer of 1941. Harold Skaarup web page with revisions

Wikipedia Bristol Beaufighter