421 Red Indian Squadron (Bellicum Cecinere). Flight Lieutenant Drope reported, ten miles inland, that the engine of his Spitfire aircraft MJ 554 was overheating and glycol was seen streaming from his aircraft. When he was at 2,500 feet and 500 yards off shore at Moisy, France he was seen to bail out and land in the sea but his parachute was not seen to open. A boat from a nearby Destroyer went out to pick him up and found that Flight Lieutenant Drope was dead.
Drope, William John (Flight Lieutenant)
Killed in Action 1944-June-07
Birth Date: 1921-December-21
Born: Regina, Saskatchewan
Parents: Son of Harry E. and Jean B. Drope, of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Spouse:
Home: Regina, Saskatchewan
Enlistment: Regina, Saskatchewan
Enlistment Date: 1941-April-08
Service
RCAF
Unit
421 Sqn- Squadron
Bellicum Cecinere They have sounded the war trumpet
Base
RAF Tangmere
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/9146
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Unit Desciption
421 Sqn Bellicum Cecinere ("Red Indian")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Spitfire VA, VB, IX, IXB, XVI)
The squadron was the 20th squadron and the last of the eight Fighter squadrons formed overseas by the RCAF in WWII. It was initiated at Digby, Lincolnshire, England 
on April 9, 1942, It flew on defensive operations over Britain, as well as offensive operations over Europe, before D-Day. After the invasion, the squadron moved to France on 16 June 1944 and thereafter provided air and ground support to the Allied ground forces as they moved through France, the Low Countries and Germany. The squadron was disbanded at Utersen, Germany on July 10, 1945.
In the course of its operations, the squadron flew some 10,900 sorties and claimed 79 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 probables and 27 damaged, for the loss of 34 aircraft and 33 pilots, of whom 4 were killed, 25 missing and 4 injured. The squadron had 2 aces, Squadron Leader R.W McNair, DFC and 2 Bars, and Flight Lieutenant P.G. Johnson. The squadron members were awarded 1 second Bar to DFC, 2 Bars to DFC and 5 DFCs. Battle Honours were: Defence of Britain 1942-43, Fortress Europe 1942-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Arnhem, RhineWikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin
Maps for Movements of 421 Squadron 1942-45
MAP 1: 421 Squadron Movements in England 1942-44 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
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MAP 2: 421 Squadron Movements, detail of Map 1
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MAP 3: 421 Squadron Movements in Europe 1944-45
421 Squadron History Summary 1942-45
421Squadron History Summary 1942-45 Page 2
421 Squadron History Summary 1942-45 Page 3
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Vampire III, 5, Meteor T7, Sabre 2, 5, 6, Starfighter)
The squadron was re-formed as a Fighter unit at Chatham, New Brunswick on 15 September 1949, flying de Havilland Vampire III aircraft and, during 1951, was stationed in the United Kingdom for operational training with the Royal Air Force, flying Gloster Meteor T Mk. 7 training aircraft. In December 1951 it was re-equipped with Sabre aircraft and in October 1952 joined No. 2 (Fighter) Wing at Grostenquin, France . Selected as one of eight Sabre squadrons in No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, the squadron was deactivated on 1 August 1963 and was reactivated as Strike Attack on 21 December. When No. 2 Wing was disbanded in February 1964, the squadron joined No. 4 Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany . On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. It was redesignated '421 Tactical Fighter Squadron' on 1 January 1972. The squadron was finally disbanded 31 August 1992, as a result of the ending of the Cold War.