LEST WE FORGET
Wing Commander John Richard RATTEN DFC
Commanding Officer, No. 453 Squadron, 1 November 1942 – 11 May 1943
Service No: 405111
Born: Sheffield TAS, 13 November 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 January 1941 (at Cairns QLD)
Unit: No. 11 Personnel Disposal and Reception Centre, RAAF Overseas Headquarters
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 15 June 1943
Died: Illness, UK, 27 February 1945, Aged 35 Years
Cremated: Brighton (Downs) Crematorium, Hampshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Victor R. Ratten and Blanche C. Ratten; husband of Barbara Hughill Ratten, of Kingston Beach, Tasmania, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hobart TAS
Remembered: Panel 3, Brighton (Downs) Crematorium, Hampshire
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation: “This officer has completed a large number of sorties and has led the squadron and often with the greatest of skill. He has rendered excellent service, setting a most praiseworthy example. Squadron Leader Ratten has destroyed one and shared in the destruction of another enemy aircraft. (London Gazette 15 June 1943 Page 2729)
On the 27 February 1945, Wing Commander Ratten, a Pilot, died of an illness in Middlehurst Hospital.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/35/456
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002