John Gordon Eldridge was born in 1920. He was the son of Percival and Bessie Mabel Eldridge, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire and husband of Daphne Joan Eldridge.

Not much is known about him. William joined the Royal Air Force and was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer on 25 May 1941. He became a navigator with 103 squadron and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 4 August 1942.

It is likely he completed a tour with 103 Squadron before being posted to 166 Squadron, where he rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. With 166 Squadron, he flew Wellingtons out of Kirmington

On 24 May 1943 F/L Eldridge and his crew were sent out on a mission to Dortmund. His crew consisted of:

166 Squadron

F/O A.E.Steward
F/L J.G.Eldridge
Sgt J.H.Griffiths
Sgt S.B.Jobes
Sgt J.F.Sanders

The crew flew Wellington HE486 AS-L on this mission. They took off from Kirminton at 2316. It is not known how they were lost, but their Wellington crashed into the North Sea, off the Dutch Coast.  All the bodies were eventually washed ashore and are now buried in the New Eastern Cemetery at Amsterdam.  HF486 was one of three 166 Squadron
Wellingtons lost on this operation.

F/L was posthumously awarded a Bar to his DFC on 29 June 1945, effective from 23 May 1943.

F/L Eldridge is buried at the Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 14. He lies in a communal with F/O William Wahl from Canada, also of 166 Squadron, who was killed ten days before.

Into the Mosaic Of Victory

Was Laid This Precious Piece

See also:
F/O A.E.Steward
F/L J.G.Eldridge
Sgt J.H.Griffiths
Sgt S.B.Jobes
Sgt J.F.Sanders

Sources:
www.gazettes-online.co.uk
www.lostbombers.co.uk
www.cwgc.org

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery

Posted 27 January 2007

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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