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Doidge, Ronald William

Date of death:
October 20th, 1944 (Nijverdal, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Municipal Cemetery Hellendoorn
Grave: 15.
Nationality:
Canadian

Biography

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.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 14th, 1943
Pilot's Flying Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With France and Germany bar.
Air Crew Europe Star
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 30th, 1946

Posthumously awarded.
RCAF Operational Wings

Sources

Photos