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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