F/O J.F. Paterson and Flt Sgt A.C. Kelly

[georgetanksherman]

Greetings Everyone, trying to find out type of aircraft, if known and Serial Number, if known on these two Fallen Warriors that they were flying at the time of loss.

F/O J.F. Paterson, J/6814, RCAF, 417 Squadron, Wiseton, Saskatchewan, Ontario. Killed in Action on December 30, 1942

Aircraft on Interception patrol and was shot down by a Ju-88 and crashed in the Larnaca Foothills near Parcata, Cyprus

Also

Pilot: Flt Sgt A.C. Kelly, R/79518, RCAF, 416 Squadron, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Killed in Action, July 29, 1942

“Shipping Patrol” Aircraft and cause of loss not known, Missing and mentioned on Runnymede Memorial, Englefield Green, Runnymede Borough, Surrey, England


Cheers and Thank You for anyone that can help with the info

[Temujin]

Greetings Everyone, trying to find out type of aircraft, if known and Serial Number, if known on these two Fallen Warriors that they were flying at the time of loss.

F/O J.F. Paterson, J/6814, RCAF, 417 Squadron, Wiseton, Saskatchewan, Ontario. Killed in Action on December 30, 1942

Aircraft on Interception patrol and was shot down by a Ju-88 and crashed in the Larnaca Foothills near Parcata, Cyprus

Hi George, F/O Paterson is a “strange one”. On his records if says he was with 417 Squadron, and that he was at first, “Killed in an airplane acccident”. Also, a court of inquiry then says “accident - but says “shot down”.......and nothing on the aircraft or number.

Then it gets stranger.....I looked up 417 Operational Record Books.......they show Paterson flying with 417 Squadron all of Dec (sorry, only looked at Dec Records) Up until the 8th Dec......then his name DOES NOT appear on ANY flying missions. AND, on the 30 Dec.......his name IS NOT on the flying records.........BUT......the records as show “recieved signal, F/O Paterson killed in an accident” dated the 31 Dec.

So, if he was flying WITH 417 Squadron on the 30th (which their is no record) they would KNOW he was killed that day......

So, I think that he may have been “attached” to another Squadron or location for that period, and he was lost and whomever he was flying for or AT, sent a signal saying he was killed. My “gut” tells me he may have been flying from another airfield, or forward operating base, still with 417 Squadron officially, but attached to someone else???

Here are the records......I’m also going to see if I can find which other Squadrons or locations were their, and see it their records tell us anything. I’ll see what I can find

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[Temujin]

A little more research. The records of 417 Squadron indicated that they were located at IDKU, which was LG229, located west of Alexandria, Egypt.

The records of F/O Paterson, indicate he went down in the Larnaca Valley......which would be on Cyprus. Quite a distance, and I’m not sure if a Spitfire or Hurricane (the Squadron was flying both at that time) could make it that far, without drop tanks (which they may have used).

Here is the record, that shows their location (in left margin)

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Below is a map showing the location of IDKU (which was located next to “Lake Edku”, I found RAF records of its construction).

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And here is a google map I did, showing the location of LG 229 (IDKU) and Larnaca (Red Circle)

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[Temujin]

Also, found a Squadron photo he was in

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[Temujin]

Pilot: Flt Sgt A.C. Kelly, R/79518, RCAF, 416 Squadron, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Killed in Action, July 29, 1942

“Shipping Patrol” Aircraft and cause of loss not known, Missing and mentioned on Runnymede Memorial, Englefield Green, Runnymede Borough, Surrey, England

Info on F/Sgt Kelly. Aircraft number very hard to read, but finally sorted it out, Spitfire Vb, EP-113

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[Temujin]

Did a little research on the aircraft for Paterson......

IF, he was flying a Hurricane, max range was 460 miles

IF, he was flying a Spitfire, max range was 470 miles, and ferry range of 1135 miles

AIR DISTANCE from Alexandria, Egypt to Larnaca, Cyprus is 353 miles (535 Kilometers)


So, this would basically put the distance “out of range” for a Hurricane (their and back) and would also put the distance “out of range” for a Spitfire (their and back) unless either aircraft was carrying slipper or drop tanks.

I stil believe he may have been flying from another airfield that was either closer to Cyprus and attached to another unit

Still searching, nothing in the RCAF Middle East HQ’s

During the war, Cyprus was not invaded by the Germans, and the British kept some Division’s on the island. Also RAF Nicosia had been built in about 1936. So I would assume that the British kept some squadrons on Cyprus but I haven’t been able to find any information so far.

[Temujin]

Finally found confirmation. He WAS flying in Cyprus in a RCAF Detachment sent to the island in December.

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Source: The R.C.A.F. Overseas, The First Four Years

[georgetanksherman]

Wow, Thank You for helping on F/O J.F. Paterson, it seemed to me every where I checked it was always saying the same thing or talking about his brother who was also at the time in the same squadron. Not the first time I could not retrieve all the info, but it is not for lack of trying, also Thank You for the info on Flt Sgt A.C. Kelly, and "Thank You" for all the help on the others as well, they all tell a story.

Cheers

George

[Temujin]

Your welcome George

[Temujin]

Follow up on F/O J. F. Paterson

A four aircraft detachment was sent to Cyprus on the 9th Dec, as show on this record

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