138 Squadron (For Freedom). On December 28, 1941 the crew of Whitley V aircraft Z 9385 were engaged in a special operation (Operation Pickaxe) when the aircraft crashed and burned, during an air battle, at the RAF Stradishall aerodrome, Gloucester, England
FS JR Petts (RCAF), Sergeant HA Pickering (RAF) and Sergeant GRS Gordon (RAFVR) were killed. FS Reimer survived the crash but succumbed to his injuries on January 1,1942
FS Reimer had previously gone missing during operations with 51 Squadron on June 22, 1941 and was found safe eight miles off Scarborough, England on June 24, 1941. Addendum: - The aircraft crashed on Dec.28/41 and F/S. Reimer died on Jan 12/42. Detail provided by L.A. Galbraith, Ottawa, Ontario.
