Date of birth:

December 2nd, 1920 (Toronto/Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

February 15th, 1944 (Waltham Down/Sussex, Great Britain)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Chichester Cemetery
Plot: C/E. Row: 159. Grave: 2.

Service number:

J/15131, RCAF

Nationality:

Canadian

William Reid Suggitt was killed on February 15th, 1944 in the crash with Lancaster Mark I (DV382) KC-J, No. 617 Squadron.

Career:
October 15th, 1940: Enlisted in Toronto;
October 15th, 1940: No.1 ITS (graduation December 14th, 1940);
December 1940: No. 10 EFTS (graduation February 7th, 1941);
February 1941: No.5 SFTS (graduation April 7th, 1941);
April 24th, 1941: Arrival Great Britain;
?: No. 405 Squadron;
December 4th, 1941: No. 104 Squadron, Driffield;
February 14th, 1942: No. 185 Squadron;
?: No. 428 Squadron, RCAF;
November 10th, 1943 - February 15th, 1944: No. 617 Squadron.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Awarded on:

July 9th, 1943

Citation:
"This officer has a fine operational record which has included sorties to all the most heavily defended centres in Germany and enemy occupied territory. He has recently taken part in raids on the Ruhr Valley including Essen and Duisburg and on the U-Boat bases of North-West Germany and France. Despite intense anti-aircraft opposition, even when the bomber has been hit by shrapnel from very close shell bursts, he has always pressed home his attacks with the utmost determination. He is an ideal operational captain whose example has been an inspiration to all other pilots in the squadron."

Award effective 1 July 1943 as per London Gazette dated 9 July 1943 and AFRO 1724/43 dated 27 August 1943.

• - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 6th July 1943, Issue 36084, dated 9th July 1943
  - Commonwealth Wargraves Commission
  - Library and Archives, Canada
  

Helaas geen map gevonden.

Crash Site Lancaster DV382

Upwaltham - West Sussex