Hello From Portland

Take a minute to introduce yourself and let us know what brought you here.
Waterford853
Assistant
Assistant
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:16 pm
Location: Portland / Hawaii
Commendations: 0

Hello From Portland

Post by Waterford853 » Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:12 am

Greetings! I'm really excited to have come across this site! It appears to be a huge potential source of information on what I'm looking for! Cutting a very long story short, I've began a late research on my father, P/O John M. Riley just last year. Thanks to today's technology as well as other helpful sites, I have began making up for lost time and have discovered quite a few tidbits thus far. However, there is much more to learn about my dad's service as a RCAF Spitfire pilot, Squadron 417 in the No Africa campaign.

Your site seems to be particularly keen on supporting amatuer reserachers like myself. Essentially, I'm looking for anything I can that pertains to his RCAF service. Thank you in advance for your help. He was shot down twice over over Tunisia with the second time occuring on April 19, 1943. He was captured by the Germans. He was then transported to Sagan, Germany and was a POW in Salag Luft III (site of the Great Escape) until the end of the war when the Russians freed the camp. One of the gems I found with my research was this radio interview he gave one of the P.E.I stations. My guess it was late 80's - early 90's. I thought I would post the link here as I found it pretty fascinating and thought some of you would too! Heads-up, there is a bit of "dead-air" at the beginning of the recording and the end cuts off abruptly.

https://islandvoices.ca/islandora/objec ... 04acass001

Looking forward to being an active member!

John

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:24 am

Welcome to the site John. Let us know if you need help on anything specific or just to share your information with all.


Cheers and Welcome

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:34 am

You probably have all this info, but thought I would post it anyway.

19 Apr 1943 Operations Records Book for 417 Squadron RCAF. If you go to this page, you can also see ALL the missions he was on “before” he was shot down in this record.

If you can share the other Squadrons he was with, we can give you links to the Ops Record books of these also (unless you have everything, then use ignore me)

https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/ooci ... 15?r=0&s=3
F1773091-026C-4CCD-90B8-8139BDF5829C.jpeg
F1773091-026C-4CCD-90B8-8139BDF5829C.jpeg (994.22 KiB) Viewed 13746 times

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:42 am

This is the actual Spitfire aircraft record that he was flying on the 19 Apr 1943. This tells you the model number, and where it went from delivery to 417 Squadron, and also the factory it was built at which was Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory
939EDA29-2CC0-4C25-8E6B-C20A182E5CCD.jpeg
939EDA29-2CC0-4C25-8E6B-C20A182E5CCD.jpeg (451.04 KiB) Viewed 13746 times

Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory

https://supermariners.wordpress.com/the ... 1937-1940/
D8515F64-E4A8-4C02-8E0E-72BD88DA41F9.jpeg
D8515F64-E4A8-4C02-8E0E-72BD88DA41F9.jpeg (344.97 KiB) Viewed 13743 times

Waterford853
Assistant
Assistant
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:16 pm
Location: Portland / Hawaii
Commendations: 0

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Waterford853 » Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:17 pm

Thank you for the warm welcome...and the great information you furnished here on my dad. No, I had not seen this before. Thanks so much! Very appreciative! Cheers! John

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:56 pm

Waterford853 wrote:
Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:17 pm
Thank you for the warm welcome...and the great information you furnished here on my dad. No, I had not seen this before. Thanks so much! Very appreciative! Cheers! John
You welcome John……if you’d like copies of ALL his flights with the Squadron, I can get them for you…….If you look at the page I posted, he had one flight in the Morning of the 19th, and you can see another flight on the 18th.

Let me know, I’ll find them all, then post them up for you. ALSO, if you know which other Squadron’s he may have flown for, again let me know and I’ll see what I can find.

I assume you have ordered his military records for LAC Ottawa. If not, again, let me know and I’ll give you the link to where you order these (it will take some time, waiting list is over a year long right now)

Cheers

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:22 pm

John, I went ahead and found all his flights with 417 Squadron…….when you go thru this you’ll see they started with Hurricane’s and then eventually switch to Spitfires.
C795BE47-67EE-430D-B8A5-8614991B7716.jpeg
C795BE47-67EE-430D-B8A5-8614991B7716.jpeg (94.95 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
85F14E2E-B1DE-4FFF-86AA-EAFAF7C02200.jpeg
85F14E2E-B1DE-4FFF-86AA-EAFAF7C02200.jpeg (115.5 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
3957563F-FF8D-41E2-A410-4BD716660956.jpeg
3957563F-FF8D-41E2-A410-4BD716660956.jpeg (114.88 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
A770A0F1-2296-4952-AFD2-5CFE86FABC85.jpeg
A770A0F1-2296-4952-AFD2-5CFE86FABC85.jpeg (92.14 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
0A80ABFA-49D9-4377-A2F1-0360D5A8F609.jpeg
0A80ABFA-49D9-4377-A2F1-0360D5A8F609.jpeg (90.11 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
80DC51CF-164A-4EC7-8C75-C9BBEEBD16A5.jpeg
80DC51CF-164A-4EC7-8C75-C9BBEEBD16A5.jpeg (88.45 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
73FFB21A-1C36-4836-A4DE-6EEDC459049E.jpeg
73FFB21A-1C36-4836-A4DE-6EEDC459049E.jpeg (94.37 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
F7B8CA38-1BC7-4846-B20C-A3DE8FFD79CE.jpeg
F7B8CA38-1BC7-4846-B20C-A3DE8FFD79CE.jpeg (108.07 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
BB76E150-E238-4239-B070-E635BBCA917B.jpeg
BB76E150-E238-4239-B070-E635BBCA917B.jpeg (102.42 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
633B2120-0E33-4BF5-AA9B-E55D95422EF4.jpeg
633B2120-0E33-4BF5-AA9B-E55D95422EF4.jpeg (104.81 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
F8CD4B80-9D4E-4032-A3C3-FE5E16ECD888.jpeg
F8CD4B80-9D4E-4032-A3C3-FE5E16ECD888.jpeg (102.57 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
40E07D77-FE3A-4E44-8D09-9CCA93CEF32F.jpeg
40E07D77-FE3A-4E44-8D09-9CCA93CEF32F.jpeg (111.43 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
543B21B8-FB3C-4DDC-96B9-F7FD7014E2E4.jpeg
543B21B8-FB3C-4DDC-96B9-F7FD7014E2E4.jpeg (207.33 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
4727ED57-38F8-4BFD-85C2-19470ED78BF8.jpeg
4727ED57-38F8-4BFD-85C2-19470ED78BF8.jpeg (176.03 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
DD67817D-037A-4656-87DF-F5750BDA31A9.jpeg
DD67817D-037A-4656-87DF-F5750BDA31A9.jpeg (120.35 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
63303281-9522-4748-A840-E2DCC05F314F.jpeg
63303281-9522-4748-A840-E2DCC05F314F.jpeg (107.08 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
95035D6F-FDC7-499D-BA98-33E43E156B8D.jpeg
95035D6F-FDC7-499D-BA98-33E43E156B8D.jpeg (110.19 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
BAA3F0D3-B596-48EC-8D08-FB8D5F67581A.jpeg
BAA3F0D3-B596-48EC-8D08-FB8D5F67581A.jpeg (99.4 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
8126CF07-6EEF-4CF9-BBB9-7EF1ADD2F43C.jpeg
8126CF07-6EEF-4CF9-BBB9-7EF1ADD2F43C.jpeg (159.36 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
52A65DA2-8DDC-454B-8113-859013407B8E.jpeg
52A65DA2-8DDC-454B-8113-859013407B8E.jpeg (100.25 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
39D0F987-DAB8-4ABE-BF16-1BCAA4F81784.jpeg
39D0F987-DAB8-4ABE-BF16-1BCAA4F81784.jpeg (109.5 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
26BB18D9-6542-48F8-84C7-8FBF948789FF.jpeg
26BB18D9-6542-48F8-84C7-8FBF948789FF.jpeg (100.32 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
CF0B0AD5-1310-478F-8695-F72F2A23907F.jpeg
CF0B0AD5-1310-478F-8695-F72F2A23907F.jpeg (180.87 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
9ABB3AE2-BF59-4074-9C1B-4A84A364FC24.jpeg
9ABB3AE2-BF59-4074-9C1B-4A84A364FC24.jpeg (169.63 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
74071B1C-769C-4201-A9F6-4FF74A140B58.jpeg
74071B1C-769C-4201-A9F6-4FF74A140B58.jpeg (105.41 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
F9332F7E-2904-41E6-8A5E-ED010570C052.jpeg
F9332F7E-2904-41E6-8A5E-ED010570C052.jpeg (159.68 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
5CABDB8F-29B3-4B76-BE84-93436268A505.jpeg
5CABDB8F-29B3-4B76-BE84-93436268A505.jpeg (90.81 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
F4457F25-DC3C-49E9-86FA-FB4F45F0CE97.jpeg
F4457F25-DC3C-49E9-86FA-FB4F45F0CE97.jpeg (160.61 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
31CF96C0-07AA-4C38-93C7-1EDD16C5D3C6.jpeg
31CF96C0-07AA-4C38-93C7-1EDD16C5D3C6.jpeg (246.99 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
AC1E8A25-E673-4C26-9797-E13C6C4AEAAE.jpeg
AC1E8A25-E673-4C26-9797-E13C6C4AEAAE.jpeg (210.1 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
E9E7678D-1A21-4AD7-98A9-7DBD8E331EAE.jpeg
E9E7678D-1A21-4AD7-98A9-7DBD8E331EAE.jpeg (147.19 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
313ED5F1-0C13-4A63-8662-0A53846EACFC.jpeg
313ED5F1-0C13-4A63-8662-0A53846EACFC.jpeg (208.57 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
4F17DC5D-4446-4EA8-80FB-AAD74BAE308C.jpeg
4F17DC5D-4446-4EA8-80FB-AAD74BAE308C.jpeg (147.98 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
0A6F6BF6-6AE2-485A-A36F-060F8333F2F0.jpeg
0A6F6BF6-6AE2-485A-A36F-060F8333F2F0.jpeg (212.88 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
B2967C8B-2022-47A3-88B5-A0E72F7FD905.jpeg
B2967C8B-2022-47A3-88B5-A0E72F7FD905.jpeg (152.53 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
7FF66E82-290C-4488-B3A7-AAE4897FAF00.jpeg
7FF66E82-290C-4488-B3A7-AAE4897FAF00.jpeg (128.18 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
1704533E-0C45-440B-B3F3-E6FBABCE4049.jpeg
1704533E-0C45-440B-B3F3-E6FBABCE4049.jpeg (152.95 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
04B8558F-5AB4-4A52-8FC5-0E311FE947CA.jpeg
04B8558F-5AB4-4A52-8FC5-0E311FE947CA.jpeg (221.95 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
55FF370C-C1D5-4621-9E5D-D0440962A029.jpeg
55FF370C-C1D5-4621-9E5D-D0440962A029.jpeg (517.77 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
C0C04492-66C7-44D0-AF96-BD437CEF284C.jpeg
C0C04492-66C7-44D0-AF96-BD437CEF284C.jpeg (491.24 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
4DF6E5B6-B100-4D51-8804-19F1A9988109.jpeg
4DF6E5B6-B100-4D51-8804-19F1A9988109.jpeg (930.63 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
8552579E-1B40-4277-99EB-C640DE4F1F06.jpeg
8552579E-1B40-4277-99EB-C640DE4F1F06.jpeg (492.23 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
0FD5F9F2-278C-4135-A413-7ABA43C45D69.jpeg
0FD5F9F2-278C-4135-A413-7ABA43C45D69.jpeg (894.98 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
60B863B0-8E69-487E-A74F-072CBD9EC7A6.jpeg
60B863B0-8E69-487E-A74F-072CBD9EC7A6.jpeg (486.1 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
F0D4920E-32A2-4BB0-AFE5-C684C6000CCE.jpeg
F0D4920E-32A2-4BB0-AFE5-C684C6000CCE.jpeg (490.86 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
F4F6676E-57E2-4FAF-A37A-DC8E08F1637C.jpeg
F4F6676E-57E2-4FAF-A37A-DC8E08F1637C.jpeg (537.24 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
EE345D05-8390-474E-9817-5FBC6AF13D19.jpeg
EE345D05-8390-474E-9817-5FBC6AF13D19.jpeg (489.19 KiB) Viewed 13730 times
5F469AA1-3CCE-4D58-ABCA-FAA7D5A14582.jpeg
5F469AA1-3CCE-4D58-ABCA-FAA7D5A14582.jpeg (998.01 KiB) Viewed 13730 times

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:22 pm

A few POW records
AAD742A8-5CEB-4DB7-BAC1-0986A33DD146.jpeg
AAD742A8-5CEB-4DB7-BAC1-0986A33DD146.jpeg (316.01 KiB) Viewed 13728 times
783E1DE2-B828-4729-94ED-967F81715A05.jpeg
783E1DE2-B828-4729-94ED-967F81715A05.jpeg (457.04 KiB) Viewed 13728 times

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:28 pm

And I see that “possibly” he donated the photo’s on this website??

RCAF 417
The "City of Windsor" Combat Support Squadron

http://www.budslc.com/ww2/417/417.htm
B9AA21BD-EF3A-4736-B4C1-90FA1850DA6A.jpeg
B9AA21BD-EF3A-4736-B4C1-90FA1850DA6A.jpeg (53.97 KiB) Viewed 13728 times
Left to right: Flight Lieutenant Tom Percival, "Stocky" Edwards and P/O John Riley

843F8BC4-656C-47F1-9E7E-10ADC6EA6F5B.jpeg
843F8BC4-656C-47F1-9E7E-10ADC6EA6F5B.jpeg (50.88 KiB) Viewed 13728 times
Pilots on weekend pass in Tel Aviv. P/O John Riley 2nd. from right.

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Hello From Portland

Post by Temujin » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:41 pm

42CC78E2-E2B3-4A3F-B701-94B3E00981C6.jpeg
42CC78E2-E2B3-4A3F-B701-94B3E00981C6.jpeg (89.5 KiB) Viewed 13724 times

Post Reply