Operation: Ramrod 212

Date: 22nd August 1943 (Sunday)

Unit No: 485 Squadron (motto: Ka whawhai tonu - 'We will fight on') 11 Group

Type: Spitfire LF.IX

Serial: EN634

Code: OU:?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: France

Pilot: Fg Off. 'Mac' Malcolm George Sutherland 413506 RNZAF Age 23. PoW No: 3328, Stalag Luft 3

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at about 18:00 hrs from RAF Biggin Hill in Kent to escort USAAF B.26 Marauders that were to bomb the airfield at Beaumont-le-Roger. When over France they were attacked by 50-60 Luftwaffe fighters from JG2 who made 6 claims on this operation.

Shot down and taken PoW. Tried to escape from the hospital in Rouen but quickly capture. After treatment which necessitated the amputation of a limb made a PoW at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan with Pow No: 3328.

Fg Off. Malcolm George Sutherland with Spitfire BM513. Earlier shot down by flak near Neuville on the 6th February 1942 pilot Flt Sgt. Alistair McLean Skinner J16082 RCAF force landed, but safe. A Canadian fighter ace with 11 claims. KiAJanuary 17th, 1943 whilst with 402 Squadron.

4 Spitfires from 485 Squadron were also lost:

Spitfire IX EN631 Flown by Plt Off. Fraser Dudley Clark 414590 KiA;

Spitfire IX BS543 Flown by Flt Sgt. Leslie Samuel McQueen White DFC. MiD. 413919 RNZAF though initially captured he soon escaped and evaded capture via Spain and returned to his unit. His biography "Pilot on the Run" written by Errol Brathwaite, published by Hutchinson in 1986. ISBN-13: 978-0091651503. Passed away in 1988 age 81. Understood to be buried at Te Puia Springs Cemetery;

Spitfire IX JL223 Flown by Fg Off. John Donald Rae DFC 402896 RNZAF (known as 'JD') shot down and take PoW. Held at Stalag Luft Sagan with PoW number 2383. During his 'stay' he had attempted an escape but was quickly captured. Had previously served in Malta with 249 Squadron and a fighter ace with 13 claims attributed to him. He passed away on the 19th of December 2008 age 88 of Kerikeri, North Island, New Zealand.

More information can be found on John Caulton's website here.

Burial details:

None - survived the war.

After the war later returned to live in New Zealand. Passed away on the 14th April 1969 aged just 49 from Cancer. Laid to rest at Havelock North cemetery, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to John Caulton and the daughter of Fg Off. Malcolm George Sutherland. also to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand (Feb 2021). Thanks to Antonio McDonald for confirming his burial details (Jul 2023).

Other sources listed below:

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