Losa, Ricardo "Richard"

Date of birth:: August 1st, 1916 (Havana, Cuba)
Date of death:: December 16th, 1943 (Sonnega, the netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Wolvega
Plot: 16. Row: 1. Grave: 11.
Service number:: R/154427
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Ricardo was born on August 1, 1916 in Havana Cuba, the son of Jose Abelardo Losa and Elvira Ventura Perez (divorced from her first husband) both Cubans of Havana. They were married on January 10 1915 in Havana. His fiancée was Monica Ferguson of Toronto (mentioned in his last will together with his mother). His sister was Mrs. Olga Beltrán.

He was a bus boy in Miami USA and member of the Roman Catholic Church. He spoke English and Spanish and French fairly and his sports were swimming and sailing.

He served from 1937-1941 with the Cuban Naval Service and he enlisted on January 9 1942 then the RCAF in Montreal and he went on May 11 1943 thereafter from New York USA overseas to the UK.

Ricardo was killed in action on Thursday December 16 1943 age 27 due to a crash at the Lindedijk between Sonnega and Oldetrijne before or after an attack on Berlin in Germany. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were P/O Gordon L. Ratcliffe age 23 in grave 16-1-15-16, Sgt Albert E. Marsland in grave 16-1-14, Sgt Edward Holloway age 25 in grave 16-1-17, Sgt Wilfred R. Day age 20 in grave 16-1-15-16 and Sgt William T. Rees age 23 in grave 16-1-13. The other fallen RAAF crew member was F/Sgt Bede J.M. King age 19 in grave 16-1-12.

His name is mentioned with the other fallen crew members at a plaque and information sign near the crash site.

He served with the 49 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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