Service number: J/26406
On October 20, 1944, around 8:15 am, a Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber exploded in the air over Nijverdal. Parts, including the engine of the aircraft for a brand and considerable damage to the factory machines of ''Ten Cate'' (Spinnerij 1/Vd Muelenweg). Other parts of the plane were found between what is now the water treatment plant and the running track. One wing was even found in the ''Jipkesbelt''.
The Canadian pilot Ron Doidge jumped out of his plane, but eventually fell through the roof of a shed about 80 meters next to the Spinnerij, where employees found him dead in the morning.
He was only 21 years old.
Ronald W. Doidge active during D-Day, Falaise, Market Garden and the bombardment of Oisterwijk, was shot at several times, made emergency landings and jumped from his box with a battered parachute during Operation Overlord. He was even followed as a German by his blond locks, then arrested and followed up.
His biography ''Days of Adventure'' (2023) was written by Andre Gorter from Nijverdal and can be ordered via ronald.w.doidge@gmail.com.
Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!