An emotive Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force Mosquito Night Fighter Navigator’s Night-Intruder Operation to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands 11 December 1944 Casualty group awarded to Flight Lieutenant P.T. Reid, Royal Canadian Air Force. Originally from Coverack, Cornwall, he was educated out in Canada at Shawnigan Lake in British Columbia, and enlisted straight from school. From September 1943 he flew operationally with No.406 “City of Saskatoon” Squadron operating in the defence of Britain, and then on operations over enemy territory when flying in Beaufighter and later Mosquito night fighter aircraft. As navigator to Flying Officer James Francis Lawless during a night intruder mission to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands when operating out of RAF Manston, he and his pilot were posted as missing in action off Friesland, there bodies being never found. He is commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial.
Group of 5: 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Clasp; Defence Medal, Canadian silver issue; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-1945 with Overseas Service Clasp; War Medal, Canadian silver issue. All with original ribbons, and contained in their individual titled card boxes of issue as seen for Canadian forces.
Condition: Extremely Fine.
Together with the following quantity of original documentation and ephemera:
Canada Minister of National Defence forwarding slip for his medals, bearing typed details for: ‘J-20661 F/L P.T. Reid’. With original posting envelope addressed to: ‘Mrs. Emma L. Reid, “Luxulyan”, Coverack, Nr Helston, Cornwall.’
Royal Canadian Air Force Posthumous Award Certificate for the award of his Operational Wings of the Royal Canadian Air Force in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy’, issued and inscribed in ink in the name of ‘Flight Lieutenant P.T. Reid’, dated 3 February 1947. Bearing facsimile signature of Air Marshal Robert Leckie, Chief of the Air Staff. This displaying evidence of having been removed from an album or frame.
Government of Canada Minister of Veteran Affairs forward letter for the Memorial Bar to be attached to the ribbon of medals.
Government of Canada Minister of the Department of Veteran Affairs information booklet concerning mounting and wearing of decorations, campaign stars and medals.
Programme for the unveiling of the Battle of Britain Memorial at Westminster Abbey on 10 July 1947.
Order of Service Booklet for the unveiling of the Battle of Britain Memorial at Westminster Abbey on 10 July 1947.
Programme for ‘A Service of Thanksgiving for Victory British Forces CMF’.
Four original loose wartime photographs of the recipient when serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, two taken in training, with in showing him standing in front of an aircraft, this inscribed on the reverse: ‘First months of my training when an A.C.2. Taken in Winter this overshoes.’ The other two show him as a commissioned officer, one with his Air Observers single brevet wing, both of these being inscribed on the reverse, the horizontal one reading: ‘This was taken in the back yard of a pals house in Nova Scotia’, the other is inscribed: ‘This was taken with a friend of mine whilst on a bicycle ride in Scotland. I was wearing civilian clothes.’
A fine framed group photograph taken of him and others whilst Officer Cadets in training, taken in front of an aircraft.
A fine hand coloured and framed photograph of him in uniform wearing his Air Observers single brevet wing and medal ribbons.
A fine framed photograph of him in uniform after having been commissioned.
Peter Talbot Reid was born on 20 May 1923, the son of Mr. N.T. and Mrs Emma L. Reid of Coverack, Cornwall. He was educated out in Canada at Shawnigan Lake School, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia from September 1940 through to January 1942, and was living with his guardian, a Mr Heybrook of Cadboro Bay, Victoria, British Columbia, when owing to the Second World War, he then enlisted straight from school into the Royal Canadian Air Force at Vancouver on 19 February 1942. After initial training in the ranks as an Aircraftsman 2nd Class (No.R.151921) and as an Officer Cadet, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer (No.J.20661) on 6 November 1942, by which time he was a qualified Air Observer (Navigator).
After leaving No.2 Air Observers School at Edmonton on 20 November 1942, he sailed overseas and disembarked in the United Kingdom on 18 December 1942, and from 5 March 1943 was attached to the 50 Group Pool. He then underwent further training at Sidmouth from 10 April 1943, and was posted to No.62 Operational Training Unit on 4 May 1943, before transferring to No.51 Operational Training Unit from 9 June 1943, before being posted to No.54 Operational Training Unit on 15 June 1943, and attached to R.A.F. Wingfield from 20 August 1943 when still with No.54 O.T.U.
Reid was posted operational to join No.406 “City of Saskatoon” Squadron on 15 September 1943. This unit was then a part of No.12 Group of Fighter Command, flying the Beaufighter Mk.VIF in a night fighter role. This unit operated out of various airfields and was involved in the defence of Britain, with Reid finding himself operating from the airfield at Ballyhalbert in County Down in Northern Ireland from 2-25 October 1943, and then at RAF Valley in Anglesey before moving with his squadron to R.A.F Exeter from 15 November 1943 to 8 May 1944. His squadron was re-equipped with the Mosquito Mk.XII night fighter during April 1944, and switched to the Mosquito Mk.XXX in July 1944.
Reid with attached to RAF Bolt Head, a satellite airfield south west of Salcombe on the south Devon coast from 25 May 1944, and would remain there until his death in action. In this period he flew as the navigator to his pilot, Flying Officer James Francis Lawless, and Reid was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. He and his pilot were lost on operations on the night of 11 December 1944. Having taken off at 1930 hours in Mosquito Serial No.MM707 from RAF Manston on a night intruder mission to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, they were reported as missing in action off Friesland, there bodies being never found. Both Reid and his pilot are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial.
