Flight Sergeant James Thomas (Jim) Reid was born in Dryden November 27, 1919 a son of Duncan and Mary Viola (Beddome) Reid. He attended Dryden High School before enlisting.
Jim receiving his ‘half wings’ prior to going to England. Photo provided by Bill Reid of Dryden.
Jim served overseas in the RCAF. He was posted to the 22nd “Operational Training Unit.”
Jim went missing, probably somewhere over the North Sea. Records say “Vickers Wellington #R 1658 failed to return from mission to Bremen, Germany…it is presumed to have crashed in the North Sea, presumed enemy action, presumed over the target., 13 Sept 1942” Given that no wreckage nor remains of the crew were ever found, R1658 probably went into the sea. Jim was 22 when he was lost.
He is commemorated on panel 106 of the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL; Surrey, United Kingdom. The Memorial Dedication Plaque reads: “IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE
Jim is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB
Thank you to Spuro Sourtzis for gathering more information HERE.
Jim was among the aircrew of a Wellington bomber much like this when he went missing.
