Operation: Ramrod 332

Date: 25th November 1943 (Monday)

Unit: No. 1 Squadron (motto: In omnibus princeps - 'First in all things').1 Group

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: JP592

Code: JX-?

Base: RAF Lympne, Kent

Location: Martinvast area, France

Pilot: F/O. James Wilson Wiley J/13479 RCAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 14:45 hrs with 5 others to attack targets in the Cherbourg peninsular les by Sq/Ldr. Anthony Zweigbergk 74733 RAFVR flying Typhoon Ib R8882. One aircraft flown by F/O. King was forced to return with engine trouble.

The operation was classed as very successful with excellent bombing results despite the heavy flak encountered.

F/O. Wileys Typhoon was hit by flak whilst strafing a gun position so he quickly climbed to 500' but was then seen to turn onto its back in flames. He was not seen to bale out - the aircraft exploded when it hit the ground at 15:30 hrs.

The remainder returned safely to base, landing at 16:05 hrs,

Burial details:

Buried on the 03rd April 1945 at 10:00 hrs. Another fatal accident from 56 OTU that occurred on the 27th March involved F/O. Robert Samuel Bellis J/44062 RCAF. He was buried at the same time.

F/O. James Wilson Wiley. Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery. Plot 6. Row F. Grave 1. Born on the 05th January 1919 in Plunkett, Saskatchewan, Canada. Educated at Viscount Consolidated High School. Worked as a motion picture projectionist prior to enlisting. Holder of private flying licence (25 hours). Enlisted on the 28th June 1940 at Viscount, Saskatchewan. Trained at No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 31 and 12 Service Flying Training School. Awarded pilot badge on the 24th March 1941. An instructor at Mount Brandon with No.12 Service Flying Training School. Son of Frederick and Jessie Alwilda Wiley (née Mosher - died 02nd December 1942, age 64) brother of two sisters, Cora Enid and Retta Irene of Viscount, Saskatchewan, Canada. Husband of Nadine Evaline Wiley (née Scott, married 07th June 1941 in Toronto), of Arden, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'Not Just To-Day But Every Day In Silence We Remember'.

Wiley Bay, Saskatchewan was named after F/O. Wiley.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archive. Kew, AIR-27-3-45/46, Government of Canada, Paradie RCAF Archives.

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