LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Douglas John RITCHIE
Service No: 404365
Born: Edinburgh, Scotland, 4 December 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 august 1940 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 13 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 13 Operational Training Unit Blenheim aircraft Z6099), Irish Sea, 28 August 1941, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Walter Ritchie, and of Christina Gilchrist Ritchie, of Corinda, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 62, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0910 hours on 28 August 1941 Blenheim Z6099 took off from RAF Station Bicester to carry out a cross country training flight to the Isle of Man and return. The route was Base – Worcester – Prestatyn – Calf of Maw – DR 53.20N 5.00W – St Tudwals – Point Lynas – Prestatyn – Worcester – Base. Position reports were received from the aircraft at 1009 hours (Worcester) and 1042 hours (Prestatyn), but nothing further was heard and the aircraft did not return to base.
The crew members of Z6099 were:
Pilot Officer Cyril Keith Bowen (J/5315) (RCAF)
Pilot Officer Douglas John Ritchie (404365) (Pilot)
Sergeant Cecil William Strutt (1182408) (RAFVR)
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, 163/55/130