Personnel Index - Detail

Name
RIDPATH
First Names
Alfred S
Rank
Sgt (later F/Sgt)
Service
RAF
Service Number
1457291
Crew Position
Wireless Operator
Posting In
Posted in 4/44 and out 6/44 to 83Sqn

 

Flew 20 operations with 49Sqn.

Image kindly provided for us by Paula Checkland and Lauren Broughton

Pilot............................P/O A Edgar
Flight Engineer...........Sgt G Bedford (one operation with Sgt J Moss)
Navigator....................F/Sgt R Brooks (three operations F/L A Patchett)
Bomb Aimer...............Sgt A Millard
Wireless Operator......Sgt A Ridpath
Mid-Upper Gunner.....Sgt J Watters
Rear Gunner..............Sgt Don Harwood

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Back L-R
Don Harwood with unknown aircrew/groundcrew
Front L-R
Alf Ridpath, Robert Brooks, Alan Edgar, Allan Millard, George Bedford



L-R: Alf Ridpath, Allan Millard, Bob Brooks, Don Harwood, John Watters with Alan Edgar in front wearing a turban.



Officially posted in to 83Sqn on the 21st June 1944 and flew 14 further operations with that squadron.





About to climb aboard Lancaster at Scampton, Lincolnshire, 36 years after the real thing.
(July 1980)

From L-R: 
Alf Ridpath (Wireless Operator RAF)
George Bedford (Flight Engineer RAF)
Al Edgar (Pilot RAF)
Don Harwood (Rear Gunner RAF)
Bob Brooks (Navigator RAAF)



(Later in the 1980s)

From L-R: 
George Bedford (Flight Engineer RAF)
Don Harwood (Rear Gunner RAF)
Al Edgar (Pilot RAF)
Alf Ridpath (Wireless Operator RAF)
Allan Millard (Bomb Aimer RAAF).

Sadly, John Watters passed away in 1961.

 

This image was taken during training as the aircraft is a Short Stirling.

Alf's crew before the addition of a Flight Engineer.
Back row: Bob Brooks, Don Harwood, Allan Millard, John Watters, Alf Ridpath.  
Front: Al Edgar.

Alf Ridpath, close to his 99th birthday.

Alf's 99th birthday with cards sent from all over the world.
(The Association thanks Paul Davies, Clubleys Estate Agents and all those who sent cards)

On the 10th December 2022, Alf celebrated his 100th birthday at a local cafe.

Alf with the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside

The Association would very much like to thank Paula Checkland and Lauren Broughton for informing us of the event and for sending these photographs.

An article from the Liverpool Echo can be found by clicking this link (opens in a new window).

Posted out: January 17th 2023

Click the image above for a larger version.......opens in a new window.