Reid, George Alfred
Killed in Action 1943-10-03
Birth Date: 1920
Born:
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RAF
Unit
46 Sqn- Squadron
Base
Rank
Wing Commander
Position
Wing Commander
Service Numbers
72750
Home
Toronto, Ontario
First Burial
Alamein War Memorial, Egypt
46 Squadron (We Rise To Conquer). Beaufighter XIc aircraft JM 238 failed to return from an anti-shipping operation near Kos, Greece, shot down by an Arrado 196 and/or flak, one of two 46 Squadron aircraft lost in the attack
W/C GA Reid (RAF)(Can) was missing, presumed killed, but his navigator Flying Officer WR Peasley (RAFVR) escaped the sinking aircraft underwater and survived to be picked up and taken to hospital in Turkey
Squadron Leader WA Cuddie (RAF)(Can) and Flying Officer LEM Coote (RAFVR) were also missing, presumed killed in 46 Squadron Beaufighter XIc aircraft JL 907. The missing are all commemorated on the Alamein War Memorial
Both W/C Reid and Squadron Leader Cuddie were trained pilots and navigators and had flown in the Battle of Britain. Cuddie flew Defiant aircraft with 141 Squadron and Reid flew Spitfire aircraft with 602 Squadron
Aviation Safety Network 
Canadian Virtual War MemorialBristol Beaufighter
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 
Bristol Beaufighter