Book of Remembrance - Volume  I

 

Flying Officer Richard Walter Vokey

Royal Canadian Air Force

Son of John Philip and Catherine Vokey, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, age 21, died on 24-Sep-1944 on a bombing mission while based at Melsbroek, Holland.

The following entry is from 439's War Operations Record Book (Form 540): J25397 F/O Vokey, the last addition to our Squadron is missing from operations. He took-off with the Squadron at 06:35 hours for an Armed Recce of the Breda-Gorinchem-Dordrecht area. F/O B.P. Swingler led the section in which F/O Vokey flew when they dove onto horse-drawn vehicles. On being attacked by flak, F/O Swingler broke sharply and watched his No. 3 attack, when F/O Vokey was not seen, he looked around and saw burning wreckage across the river at map reference 0450. F/O Swingler flew over the wreckage of which no part was recognizable. F/O J. Carr, the No. 3 saw F/O Vokey pull up into a steep climb causing vapour trails the entire width of the aircraft but lost sight of him on concentrating on his own target. F/O Vokey has had only 3 operations totalling 3:00 hours, before this last trip. He was quite a pleasant individual and we were very sorry to lose him.

The following entry is from 439's War Operations Book (Form 541): F/L Monson was in the leading aircraft when nine of our Squadron machines took-off to carry out an armed recce over roads and railroads in the Breda-Gorinchem area. A number of scattered MET (Motorized Enemy Transport) were found just north of Breda and all aircraft attacked. When the damage inflicted on the enemy was totaled up, the score came to four flamers and eleven damaged. While carrying out an attack against a ground target, F/O R.W. Vokey (J25397) apparently pressed it home too long and failed to recover from his dive in time. Burning wreckage (aircraft) was seen in the area, presumably that of F/O Vokey. No flak was seen throughout the show and all other aircraft returned unharmed to base.

Following entry is from The Canadian Virtual War Memorial website courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

F/O R.W. Vokey (J25397) is buried at BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, Netherlands Grave Reference: 7. F. 10.

Location: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY is located 39 Km north west of Antwerp and 19 Km after passing the Border into the Netherlands. The N11 connects Antwerp to Bergen op Zoom via Kapellen, Pulte, Hoogerheide and finally on to Bergen op Zoom. On reaching Bergen op Zoom railway station turn right onto the Stationsplein and after 200 M turn right onto the Bredastraat. Follow this road for 500 M where it becomes Wouwsestraatweg and carry straight on for 2.5 kilometers. The street has now changed to the Ruytershoveweg and the BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY can be found on the left of this street. Steps into cemetery (not suitable for wheelchairs.

 

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