While there he flew 63.05 day dual, 101.45 day solo, 6.55 night dual, 10.25 night dual, 16.20 formation, 29.45 on instruments, 25.00 in Link, 7.15 on dual navigation, 19.45 on solo navigation course, and flew 5.25 before going solo in a Harvard. Passenger in an Anson that made a forced landing, 5 October 1942; no injuries. Posted to "Y" Depot, Halifax for overseas movement, 7 November 1942. Embarked from Canada, 19 November 1942. Disembarked in Britain, 6 December 1942 & Taken on strength of No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth. Attached to No.6 EFTS, 8-26 March 1943. To No.17 (P) AFU, 30 March 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 23 April 1943. To No.53 OTU, 27 April 1943. While there he was graded Above Average in almost all categories and described as “A keen, sensible and steady pilot.” In level bombing he achieved an average error of 25 yards. He also fired 1,520 rounds (air-to-air) and 58 rounds (air-to-ground), gaining 5.1 percent hits. To 421 Squadron, 20 July 1943. Attached to No.3 PRC, 17 August to 3 October 1943. To No.1601 Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Flight, 3 October 1943. He appears to have flown a Barracuda there for 45 minutes and to have taken dry and wet dinghy drills. As of 5 October 1943 he had flown the following types: Fleet Finch (39.20 dual, 39.00 solo), Harvard (74.00 dual, 112.10 solo), Moth (12.55 dual, 29.25 solo), Master (15.00 dual, 13.00 solo) and Spitfires 1, 2 and 9 (73.35). To No.1623 Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Flight, 7 October 1943. To 691 Squadron, 1 December 1943. Described on posting as being “A sound, hard working officer and keen pilot” who had flown a total of 760 hours (200 in previous six months). Married Iris Christina Gibbins, Northampton, England, 9 July 1944. To No.1 Tactical Evaluation Unit, 10 July 1944. To No.53 OTU, 29 July 1944. To No.83 Group General Service Unit, 22 August 1944. To 411 Squadron, 14 September 1944. Attended No.17 Armament Practice Camp, 13-24 October 1944 ( Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 23 October 1944.) Killed in action 3 March 1945 (Spitfire MK950) attacking a railway in the Coesfeld area near Munster. Award presented to next-of-kin, 5 November 1946. See H.A. Halliday, The Tumbling Sky, for biographical details. See Peter Mossman, "F/L Richard Joseph Audet, DFC and Bar", Journal of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, Fall 1964. |
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Canadians Lost 3 Planes Knocking Down 11 Germans
Show Big Margin Battling Strong Luftwaffe Fleets
London, Dec, 30, 1944 — (CP Cable) — Continent-based Canadian Spitfires and Typhoons, battling powerful Luftwaffe forces seeking to protect Rhineland rail and pipe lines Friday, destroyed at least 11 enemy craft at a cost of three Canadian planes, the R.C.A.F. announced today.
F/L Richard J. Audet, 22, of Lethbridge, Alta., a Spitfire pilot, paced the R.A.F. 2nd T.A.F. effort with the destruction of five German planes within five minutes near Osnabruck.
Canadian Spitfire and Typhoon wings, returning to their assault on the German supply system from which they had been diverted at the opening of Field Marshal von Rundstedt's counter-offensive, flew more than 250 sorties — a quarter of the T.A.F. total — destroyed or damaged 60 railway cars and four locomotives, slashed rail lines at a number of strategical points, and carried out low-level strafing and bombing attacks in clear weather.
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Canadian Pilot Downs 5 Huns In 5-Minute Battle Over Reich
London, Dec. 31, 1944 - (CP) – F/L Richard J. Audet, 22-year-old Spitfire pilot of a Canadian wing operating with the British 2nd Tactical Air Force, had never before downed an enemy aircraft — but in five blazing minutes over Osnabruck he racked up five kills on Friday.
His feat was performed as Canadian fliers smashing at German communication targets in the Rhineland were met by stiff enemy aerial opposition.
Audet's victims were three Focke-Wulf 190's, one Messerschmitt 109 and an unspecified aircraft.
Pilots in this wing destroyed a total of nine German aircraft, probably destroyed another two and damaged six. They also smashed at Nazi rail traffic, destroying four locomotives, damaging 13 and damaging 75 freight cars.
The wing's four remaining kills were scored by F/L E. C. Ireland of Toronto, F/L R. M. Cook of Boston Creek, Ont., F/O Robert McCracken of Lakefield, Ont., and F/O G. D. A. T. Cameron of Toronto. All their victims were Focke Wulf 190's.
The other two kills went to F/O Robert Laurence of Edson, Alta., without firing his guns. He was attacked by five German aircraft over a distance of about 10 miles and was taking evasive action, turning first toward an "FW" on his beam. When the latter attempted to follow in tight circles, it crashed and burst into flames. As he circled he bounced past an Me109 and was just about to open fire when the German, attempting to make too tight a circle, crashed.
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AUDET, F/O Richard Joseph (J20126) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.411 Squadron
Award effective 16 February 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 563/45 dated 29 March 1945.
This officer has proved himself to be a highly skilled and courageous fighter. In December 1944 the squadron was involved in an engagement against twelve enemy fighters in the Rheine/Osnabruck area. In a most spirited action, Flying Officer Audet achieved outstanding success by destroying five enemy aircraft. This feat is a splendid tribute to his brilliant shooting, great gallantry and tenacity.
NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9044 had recommendation, apparently drafted by his Flight Commander (no date); he was recorded as having flown 46 sorties (62 hours 50 minutes):
While taking part in a fighter sweep on December 29th, 1944, Flight Lieutenant Audet destroyed five enemy aircraft single-handed, all within a few minutes. He was flying with the squadron as Yellow One when he reported twelve Messerschmitt 109s and Focke Wulf 190s in the Rheims/Osnabruck area and immediately led his section in to attack, picking a 109 which was the last aircraft in the formation. He gave a short burst and the 109 went down in flames.
After the first attack he went round in a defensive circle and spotting a 190 slightly below he went in to attack, another short burst and this aircraft too went down in flames.
The third attack followed almost immediately; this time the target was another 190 which was going down in a slight dive and which then pulled up in a sharp climb. Flight Lieutenant Audet opened fire at 300 yards and at this juncture the pilot unsuccessfully attempted to bale out and the aircraft crashed in flames.
Immediately [after] this combat had taken place Flight Lieutenant Audet saw a Spitfire being pursued by a FW.190; instantly he closed in on the enemy aircraft and shot it down in flames, thus probably saving the life of a fellow pilot. Then as he was reforming his section he saw a FW.190 below. Diving down he carried out a head-on attack and had the satisfaction of seeing this aircraft spin and crash to the ground.
Flight Lieutenant Audet’s keenness and exceptional eyesight are applied equally to ground targets as illustrated in an earlier mission the same day when he destroyed one locomotive, damaged two others and at least eleven trucks.
The Commanding Officer, No.411 Squadron, added his remarks (again, no date):
In a short period Flight Lieutenant Audet has proved himself to be a pilot of exceptional skill, aggressiveness and determination. Apart from having destroyed five enemy aircraft he has many ground targets to his credit. I strongly recommend that he be awarded an immediate Distinguished Flying Cross.
On 9 January 1945 G/C. G.R. McGregor wrote:
The almost unprecedented performance of this officer in bringing about the destruction of five enemy aircraft on one operation has, it is felt, well entitles him to recognition in the form of an immediate Distinguished Flying Cross. Good fortune played some part in the destruction of two enemy aircraft, but excellent shooting, coolness and the ability to seize every opportunity to attack were the major factors.
On 13 January 1945 the Air Officer Commanding, No.83 Group, wrote:
This officer performed a remarkable feat in destroying five enemy aircraft in one operation. The facts of his combat have been confirmed by examination of his cine films and there is no doubt that he put up a magnificent show. I very strongly recommend the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The award was approved by Air Marshal A. Coningham on 14 January 1945.
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One Pilot Gets Triple Kill As Canadians Destroy 11
London, 1 Jan. 1945 - (CP) - F/L J. MacKay of Cloverdale, B.C., an RCAF Ram Squadron pilot, scored a triple victory Sunday when planes of a Canadian Spitfire wing destroyed 11 Focke-Wulf 190's in 15 minutes over Enschede, Holland, near the German border.
F/L MacKay's triple kill, his second in a fortnight, was scored in a dog fight that developed after the Canadians saw 15 German planes taking off from Enschede air field.
Others to destroy single enemy planes included:
F/L Dick Audet, DFC, of Lethbridge, Alta., a Grizzly Bear Squadron sharpshooter who boosted his total of downed planes to 9½. Five of that total were destroyed in a single engagement recently.
F/L J. J. Boyle, Toronto, and F/O J. A. Doran of Victoria, both Grizzly Bear Squadron members.
F/L J. N. G. Dick of Montreal and F/L J. E. G. Reade, an American, both of the Caribou Squadron.
F/L F. Murray, Saint John, N.B., and F/O D. B. Dack of Calgary and Taber, Alta.
Passing over the airfield, the Ram Squadron airmen saw 12 Focke Wulfs flying east over the airdrome at 1,000 feet and others taking off. The Canadians attacked.
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Canadian Fighter Pilots Get Biggest Bag of Huns
London, Jan 2 1945 (CP) - Canadian fighter pilots accounted for at least half of the 94 German plane destroyed by the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force New Year's Day when the Luftwaffe made an attempt to cripple west front airfield operations.
A compilation tonight, based on the latest reports received from the Continent, showed that RCAF fighters in their biggest day of the war destroyed at least 36 enemy aircraft and half-a-dozen others fell to Canadian sharpshooters in RAF Squadrons.
The top scoring wing in the 2nd Tactical Air Force during the day of close to 100 "kills" was the Canadian Spitfire unit which brought down 24 German machines, probably destroyed another three and damaged seven. An untold number of probables and damaged planes were claimed by other Canadians.
The wing’s scorers included two airmen who downed three planes apiece, both from the Ram Squadron. F/O G. D. Cameron of Toronto destroyed a trio of ME-109s while F/L John MacKay of Cloverdale, B.C., destroyed two ME-109s and an FW-190. Mackay got the last two without using his guns because they dived into the ground when he chased them.
F/L D. Pieri of Toronto and Elmhurst, Ill., destroyed two FW-190s and probably destroyed two others.
F/L Dick Audet of Lethbridge, Alta., who last Friday shot down five enemy planes in little more than five minutes, brought his total to seven with two FW-190s bagged as they roared low over his field. Friday's quintet were the first aircraft the 22 year-old Lethbridge airman had downed.
Others from the Canadian wing, who helped to set up the day's record - the previous top mark for the Canadians in a single day was 22 planes - included S/L Dean Dover, DFC, and Bar, of Toronto, who destroyed an ME-109 and shared another with F/O Dean Kelly of Peterborough, Ont. and F/L Donald Gordon of Vancouver with two ME-109's.
Double scorers included F/L J. W. Garland, Richmond, Ont.; P/O Steve Butte, Michel, B.C.; P/O Mac Reeves, Madoc, Ont. and F/O A. H. Fraser, Westmount, Que.
Single scorers included F/L W. Banks, Toronto; F/L B. MacPherson, St. Thomas, Ont.; F/L Basil Doak, Cowansville, Que.; F/O Vic Smith, Toronto; F/O J. C. Lee, Ottawa; P/O D. M. Horsburgh, Carnduff, Sask.; F/L N. Keene, White Lake, B.C.; F/O H. Laurence, Edson, Alta. and F/Sgt Keith Lindsay, 10764 95th St. Edmonton. Lindsay also claimed one probable.
Operations today were restricted by weather but 90 sorties were flown and all aircraft returned. Two locomotives were destroyed and four others damaged in the Cologne area by Spitfire fighter-bombers.
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Lethbridge Airman Destroys German Plane
London, 5 Jan. 1945 — CP Cable) — F/L Dick Audet, of Lethbridge, Alta., destroyed a German Focke-Wulf 190 yesterday and shared in the destruction of another to raise to 8½ his bag of enemy planes knocked down in a week, the R.C.A.F. reported.
F/L Audet, who shot down five German planes in a little more than five minutes last Friday and got two more New Year's Day, shared one plane yesterday with F/L J. J. Boyle, of Toronto.
The German planes downed were among six destroyed by the R.C.A.F. Grizzly Bear Squadron in a mid-afternoon fight against seven aircraft just northeast of Hengelo, Holland.
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Canadians Down 8 Nazi Planes; Audet Gets 2 Jets
London, Jan. 23, 1945 – (CP) – Canadian fighter pilots in continuous strikes today destroyed at least eight German aircraft in combat, damaged as many others and blew up ground targets with withering cannon and machine-gun fire.
Five of the destroyed planes and six of those damaged were twin jet-propelled ME262s.
They fell to the planes of the Ram and Grizzly Bear Spitfire Squadrons in two separate engagements. This is believed to be a record day’s bag of jet-propelled aircraft.
Two of the jets were shot down by F/L Dick Audet, DFC, of Lethbridge Alta., and the double kill brought his score to 11½. Audet (unfortunately, one was determined to have been destroyed on the ground and his score reduced to 10½ -jf), a Grizzly Bear Squadron pilot, only started scoring a few weeks ago when he destroyed five German planes in one dogfight, in one of the greatest single triumphs of aerial warfare.
The latest victims were about to land at an airfield near the city of Rheine on the Ems River, 65 miles north of Dortmund.
Ram pilots destroyed the three remaining jet craft when they encountered more than 15 of the jets either landing or taking off an airfield near Osnabruck. F/O D. F. Church of Peterborough, Ont., was credited with one.
Attack Near Hamm
Remainder of the planes destroyed were FW190’s. The Red Indian Squadron pounced on several near Hamm, big rail center east of the Ruhr, and shot down two in flames. F/L M. J. Gordon of Edmonton and F/O Fred Evans of 310 Durle St. Toronto shared one of them.
During the day Spitfires of this wing destroyed a locomotive and damaged four others and 15 freight cars. They also destroyed eight motor vehicles.
RCAF squadrons flew almost 400 sorties and among other achievements, 17 cuts were made in German rail lines carrying supplies and reinforcements to the front.
The day-long activities cost the RCAF five planes but one of the pilots is safe.
Audet Is Modest
F/L Dick Audet, the young Canadian who made air-war history in a Spitfire over Germany by destroying five German aircraft in a single dogfight failed to claim a fifth kill at first interrogation, the Maple Leaf reports from Holland.
It wasn’t until he and his squadron mates returned from a subsequent mission and retraced the battle Hun by Hun that the 22-year-old Lethbridge Alberta pilot claimed two Me109s and three FW190s destroyed.
It was all the more remarkable in that it was his first success in the air. He had no luck at all on his first operational tour from English bases.
Audet’s five-to-seven minute dream battle materialized 14,000 feet over Osnabruck where, leading a section of the high-scoring grizzly Bear Squadron, he spotted a mixed gaggle of 12 MEs and FWs
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First to Pass 250-Plane Mark
AN R.C.A.F. AIRFIELD IN THE NETHERLANDS, 25 Jan. 1945 (CP) — A Canadian Spitfire wing in the 2nd Tactical Air Force has become the first to pass the 250- mark in enemy aircraft destroyed since D-day, last June 6, it was announced today.
The Wing’s total now is 254, and a haul of six German planes Tuesday by the Grizzly Bear and Ram squadrons was what put the Wing past the quarter-thousand.
The Wings also has an excellent record in rail and road transport destroyed or damaged, and rail lines cut.
Attacks Wednesday by Canadian Spitfires and Typhoons damaged 10 locomotives, destroyed two and damaged 32 railway cars, and damaged 12 mechanical transports.
JET CRAFT DAMAGED
One of the few enemy aircraft encountered — a Jet-propelled Me262 — was damaged east of Munster by F/L Richard J. Audet, 22-year-old Lethbridge ace.
An enemy-held factory east of Heinsberg, now in British 2nd Army hands, was left in flames after an attack by Canadian Typhoons.
American fighter-bombers flew 342 sorties Wednesday and destroyed or damaged 663 trucks and 68 tanks and armored vehicles, bringing their three-day toll of destruction against the enemy to 5,644 pieces of equipment.
This total, which included 725 tanks and armored vehicles, was for the U.S. air force alone.
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RCAF Awards
Ottawa, March 9, 1945 - (CP) - Air Force Headquarters announced tonight the award of one bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Distinguished Flying Medals to members of the RCAF serving overseas.
Award of one British Empire Medal and one King's Commendation for valuable services to two other airmen was announced through publication in the official Canada Gazette.
The recipients include:
BAR TO THE DFC - F/L R. J. Audet, Lethbridge, Alta. (Audet now missing and believed killed).
The 22-year-old Audet, member of the high-scoring RCAF Grizzly Bear Squadron of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, accounted for 10½ German planes in air battles. Five of them, his first kills, were destroyed in a five-minute battle over Osnabruck last Dec. 29 — a feat which won him the DFC.
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AUDET, F/L Richard Joseph (J20136) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.411 Squadron
Award effective 9 March 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 625/45 dated 13 April 1945.
This officer is an outstanding fighter pilot. Since his first engagements towards the end of December 1944, he has completed numerous sorties during which he has destroyed a further six enemy aircraft bringing his total victories to eleven. Flight Lieutenant Audet has also most effectively attacked numerous locomotives and mechanical vehicles. His skill and daring have won the highest praise.
When shot down his flying mates were quite clear in saying that he had been ht by flak, streamed glycol, crashed in flames and exploded. Nevertheless, in 1946-47 officers checking reports of war crimes were advised that a Canadian airman had been shot down that day attacking a rail line, had escaped from his aircraft and was trying to burn it when taken into custody. He was then reported to have been taken away by Luftwaffe personnel, at least one of whom was described as a violent Nazi Party member. There is no conclusive evidence that a war crime was committed or that Audet was the centre of this particular incident, but it does demonstrate the circumstances where final fates were unresolved.
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Air Force Casualties
Ottawa, March 16, 1945 — The Department of National Defense for Air today issued casualty list No. 1,143 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing next-of-kin of those named from Ontario include:
OVERSEAS
Missing, Believed Killed in Air operations
AUDET, Richard Joseph. D.F.C., F/L, Lethbridge, Alta. (wife overseas).
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Air Force Casualties - Sept 24th 1945
OVERSEAS
Previously Missing Believed Killed, Now Presumed Dead
AUDET, R. J., D.F.C. and Bar, F/L, Lethbridge, Alta.
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Victories Include :
| 29 Dec 1944 1 Jan 1945 4 Jan 1945 14 Jan 1945 23 Jan 1945 24 Jan 1945 |
3 FW190s two Me109s two FW190s 1.5 FW190s one FW190 one Me262 one Me262 one Me262 |
destroyed & destroyed [a] destroyed destroyed [b] destroyed destroyed & destroyed OTG damaged |
10.5 / 0 / 1
plus 1 / 0 / 0 On The Ground
All in less than one month !
[a] Audet's combat report - "I was leading Yellow section of 411 Squadron in the Rheine/Osnabruck area when Control reported Huns at Rheine and the squadron turned in that direction. An Me 262 was sighted and just at that time I spotted 12 e/a on our starboard side at 2 o'clock. These turned out to be a mixture of approximately 4 Me 109's and 8 FW 190's.
[b] One shared with Jack Boyle |
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Related Sites :
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Thanks go out to
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.
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