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This pilot flew Spitfire fighter aircraft for the RCAF / RAF (60% of all RCAF personnel served in RAF units at some point) in WWII, this record has come from the database of Mr. Halliday, a Canadian military historian.
Based at Castletown near Wick in the Scottish Highlands were Spitfires of 124 squadron. The purpose of this squadron was to protect the approaches to Scapa Flow,anchorage for the Home Fleet, albeit by attacks from enemy aircraft or damage to ships caused by debris from floating wreckage from shipping or aircraft known as `Flotsam & Jetsom`.
On the morning of 24th September 1941 two Spitfires of 124 Sq took off from Castletown on a `Flotsam` patrol off the Orkney Islands, flying one of these Spits` X4108 was young Reg Pauley, a Sergeant with the RCAF, Reg was relatively new to the squadron and had only arrived at Castletown on 1st August, but had flown several of these patrols prior to this one.
It is presumed the mission went OK and nothing out of the ordinary was reported as the two Spitfires made their way back towards Orkney from out east, Sgt Pauley was flying as Flight Leader as they entered low cloud near Rendall, suddenly and without warning Reg Pauley`s Spitfire struck the hill and he was killed instantly, and Sgt Moore flying R6627 in a split second managed to pull up and just cleared the hill.
Sgt Reginald H.Pauley, aged just 20 and a native of New Brunswick, Canada, was buried with full military honours in Sandwick Cemetery,Orkney, alongside two other RAF pilots, Sgt Cox and P/O Bridger both of whom also lost their lives to aircraft accidents in Orkney.
Reg was the youngest son of William and Emma Pauley and had three elder siblings, Leslie, Helen and Eric.
Information from http://www.crashsiteorkney.com/spitfire-x4108-rendall
More information and photos relating to Sgt Pauley and this accident can be found in a new book `Lost to the Isles` by David W. Earl published by Hanover Publications. Copies are available from Davesbooks50 on Amazon just type in book title at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/
This Pilot's entry: cause of death was kia, burial location UK, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) may have more information on family.
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