In Memory of
Thomas Melville PETHICK
Flying Officer
J/10279
Pilot
430 (RCAF) Squadron
Royal Canadian Air Force
who died on
Wednesday 02 June 1943. Age 21
Additional information
Son of L. M. Pethick and D. Gertrude Pethick, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
Personal Inscription
In memory of our dear son,
Gone to rest
With our Father in heaven
Cemetery
AIREL CHURCHYARD, Manche, France.
Location Information
Airel is a village 12 kilometres north of the town of Saint-Lô.
There is 1 Commonwealth burial of the 1939-1945 war here, 16 metres south-east of the south-eastern corner of the church.
Circumstances (According to documents kept in the National Archives – UK)
On 2nd June 1943, Flying Officer T.M. Pethick (in Mustang Mk.I aircraft serial AM200) and Flying Officer D. Sherk, both of 430 (RCAF) Squadron, took off from RAF Station Dunsfold for a Rhubarb mission (*) over Normandy, France. They crossed the coast between Lion-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Calvados Department, turning right hitting railway running north and south, attacked locomotive of goods train, no flak on coast, no flak from train, both pilots attacked and hits were seen all over engine, no steam seen. The section flew on coming out over airfield at Caen where they met heavy flak. They took evasive action turning west along railway towards Bayeux, and then on to Airel, Manche Department. In railway junction, 4 locomotives were seen, each pilot attacked, one hit was seen but intense flak was encountered. F/O Pethick’s machine was hit and sadly crashed.
(*) Rhubarb: Small scale freelance fighter sorties against ground targets of opportunity.
© The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
© The National Archives
© Canada.ca
© RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited