550 Squadron Crew
F/O J O Richard DFC and Crew
F/O Richard and crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from 100 Sqdn "C" Flight w.e.f 25/11/1943. They were in fact the first crew in the list of transferred crews on the date of squadron formation.
- F/O J O Richard DFC RCAF (P)
- W/O T E Boyle DFC RCAF (Nav)
- Sgt A G Day (F/Eng)
- Sgt R W Scott RCAF (A/B)
- F/Sgt W G Rate RAAF (W/Op)
- Sgt W J Carthew (MU/AG)
- Sgt T J Connaghan (R/AG)
F/O J O Richard posted in as P/O Richard, but by the time of his first operation he was already F/O; he transferred out of 550 at the end of his tour as F/Lt Richard DFC.
The crew completed their tour at the end of May 1944 and were posted out between 10 and 17 June 1944.
Thanks to Rodney Rate (son of F/Sgt Rate) for making the photos below available.
F/Sgt William George Rate |
F/Sgt Rate |
Aircraft on fire on the ground |
Two unknown airmen |
Compass used by F/Sgt Rate, and which he bought home and his son used at school |