John Anthony Quick was born in 1922 in Bristol. He was married to Joyce Quick.

He part of a crew on a Mitchell bomber with 98 squadron. 98 Sqn was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force in April of 1943. After the invasion it was stationed on the continent. In February 1945, 139 Wing, of which it was part together with 180 and 320 (Dutch) squadrons, was stationed at Melsbroek airfield in Belgium.

On 6 February 1945, 43 Mitchells of 139 Wing and 18 Bostons attacked the railroad bridge at Deventer. Flight Sgt. Quick was flying in Mitchell HD380 'Y'.

  98 Sqn RAF

The results of the attack were rather poor, as only a small portion of the bridge was hit and most bombs fell short of the target.

The Allied planes received heavy and accurate anti aircraft fire form the German defenses near the bridge. One Mitchell of 98 squadron was shot down. The plane came down in a part of town called de Worp, which is like a nature park. As the plane had not released its bombs yet, these exploded on impact, killing the crew, obliterating the plane and damaging buildings in the vicinity. Two of the crew were recovered.

F/S Quick is buried in Deventer General Cemetery at the Raalterweg. He was 23. He is buried in grave no. 3199.

Also buried here is air gunner Sgt. Harry Locke. Another member of this crew, Sgt James Ward, is still missing and commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Deventer, The Netherlands

See also:
Sgt Harry Locke
Sgt Jack Ward

Sources:
Gerrit Zwanemburg, En Toen Was Het Stil,  Royal Dutch Air Force, ny
Mr. Russell Legross
Mr. Frank Davies
Mr. Herman Rechterschot, Deventer Archives

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

Directions to Deventer General Cemetery

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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