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Wingman's story confirms final moments of WW2 aviator killed attacking Hitler's flagship
11 October 2024
Nearly 80 years to the day of the fateful attack, the grandsons of two naval pilots completed the story of Lieutenant Commander Ron Richardson’s last mission, pieced together over decades.
On August 24 1944, the grandfathers of Commander Phil Richardson (Lt Cdr Ron Richardson) and Robert Leenen (Jan Gijsbert ‘Bert’ Boon von Ochssée) flew side-by-side in a concerted strike by the Fleet Air Arm to sink Hitler’s flagship, Tirpitz, Richardson leading the attack, the Dutchman his wingman.
Lt Cdr Richardson scored a hit on the battleship, but his Grumman Hellcat fighter was peppered by flak as he pulled out his dive, then smoke, mist and clouds swallowed up his aircraft. He was never seen again.
The fate of his Hellcat was finally determined seven decades later when its wreckage was found on a mountain above Kaafjord, deep in the Arctic Circle, by local historians.
Cdr Richardson subsequently made the pilgrimage to the crash site, clambering several thousand feet to pay his respects.
Near the summit he found the remnants of the Hellcat scattered around, the fuselage punctured with bullet holes, plus an unmarked grave nearby – now empty, as the body was reinterred near Tromsø post-war with other casualties of the fighting around the fjord.
The location of the wreck/grave after all this time would have been the end of the story… but for a random internet inquiry out of the blue from Mr Leenen who saw the story of Cdr Richardson’s visit to the crash site online.
That led to the two men meeting at RNAS Yeovilton – where Commander Richardson has served for the majority of his career… and continues to serve now as a reservist with HMS Pegasus.
Weaned on – and inspired by – stories of his grandfather’s deeds courtesy of his grandmother, he too became a pilot, notching up 2,500 hours in the cockpits of Lynx and Wildcat helicopters and commanding 815 Naval Air Squadron.
“Throughout my flying career I have always kept Ron’s photograph near to remind me of my heritage and of the courage displayed by those who have gone before,” Cdr Richardson said.
“Several people have asked who Ron was and I have always been delighted to share his story so a few people already knew of him.”
Originally from New Zealand, Ron Richardson had answered the ‘call to arms’ in 1940, joining his nation’s naval reserve as a pilot.
He was wounded in action on at least two occasions, his aircraft was shot up more than once and he survived several forced landings. A proven aviator, he also instructed trainee pilots before being appointed commanding officer of 1840 NAS.
His wingman survived the attack on the Tirpitz (it was eventually sunk by RAF Lancaster bombers carrying special Tallboy heavy bombs in November 1944) and like Cdr Richardson’s grandmother Sheila, shared his wartime experiences with his grandson, and the fate of his Commanding Officer at the time, Ron Richardson.
For Cdr Richardson meeting Mr Leenen not only confirmed his grandfather’s final moments but also underlined the strong bond between naval aviators – a bond he knows all too well from his quarter of a century’s experience flying Royal Navy helicopters.
“Robert shared exactly what his grandfather saw as Ron dived through the flak and was hit. He relayed first hand the emotion of it - and the feeling of loss of the Commanding Officer,” Cdr Richardson said.
“A trusted relationship formed after 80 years had passed between the two grandsons – we felt a strong bond of friendship.”