LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer John Kenneth RIDLEY DFM
Service No: 402754
Born: Dulwich Hill NSW, 17 December 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 October 1940
Unit: No. 83 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Wyton
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 83 Squadron Lancaster aircraft R5743), off Denmark, 19 February 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Samuel William and Winifred Leslie Ridley, of Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 191, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Honour Rolls, Sydney NSW
DFM Citation: Flight Sergeant Ridley has displayed a very high standard of navigational skill while flying on operational missions. His consistent accuracy has invariably enabled his crew to arrive at the objective at the right moment. On one sortie against Hamburg, the entire journey to and from the target was completed on 3 engines and in spite of the consequent difficulties, Flight Sergeant Ridley efficiently and calmly navigated the aircraft and assisted in accomplishing a highly successful mission. In all respects this airman has set a fine example.”
At 1815 hours on 19 February 1943 Lancaster R5743 took off from Wyton to attack Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. It was assumed that R5743 had been shot down by flak or by night fighters. The remains of one crew member were recovered and in 1949 it was recorded that the remaining six crew members had lost their lives at sea.
The crew members of R5743 were:
Flight Lieutenant John Alexander Bright MID (67597) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Joseph Sydney Holmes DFC (102602) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator)
Flight Sergeant Leslie Knill (926621) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner) Remains recovered
Flight Sergeant John McAlister (1079144) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Raymond Leslie Merrett (1387096) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Pilot Officer John Kenneth Ridley DFM (402754) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Albert Edmond Schildknecht (928921) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
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, 166/35/21
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line