Raising the profile

“I am the area Scotland manager of the Battle of Britain Historical Society, a body dedicated to raising the profiles of the brave aircrew who flew and fought in the battle,” emails Bill Nicholson.

“We aim to perpetuate the memory of the Battle of Britain now and for future generations, to find and record grave locations of airmen wherever in the world they are buried, to assist where possible in the renovation and maintenance of neglected graves and to pay regular visits to the graves of airmen who no longer have family or friends to visit them.

“In this year, the 80th anniversary of the battle, I would be grateful if readers could assist me in contacting any family members of the aircrew from Fife.

“One of those men was Robert Douglas Ritchie.” (See photograph on the right.) “He was born in Fife and joined the RAFVR in April 1939 as an airman u/t pilot. He was called up on September 1 1939, completed his training and was serving with 605 Squadron at Drem in early July 1940.

“During a section patrol off the east coast on August 9 1940, Ritchie called up reporting that he had a glycol leak and the fumes were making him drowsy. He crashed into the sea one mile off Dunbar, East Lothian, in a Hurricane L2103, breaking his neck.

“His body was picked up by the motor yacht Eunmara. Ritchie was 24 years old. He is buried in Leslie Cemetery, Fife.”

Bill says that any help readers can give would be greatly appreciated.

He can be contacted by email at bnixy1958@gmail.com