Audet, Richard Joseph

Five in ten minutes – F/Lt Richard J. Audet

Legendary aircraft Spitfire fought and won throughout the 2. world war ii and on all the battlefields. Fought on it airmen of many nationalities, many of them became aces. Only one pilot, however, the Spitfire managed to shoot down five aircraft during one flight. The fate of this man engaged in the following lines.

Richard Joseph, later known as "Dick", was born to the husbands Paul and Edewisce Audetovým 13. march 1922 in Lethbridge, in the province of Alberta. To the royal canadian air force was drafted 26. August 1941 in Calgary and he was assigned the registry number, the RCAF Well. J20136. In Canada, Richard underwent basic pilot training, which he completed in October 1942. Followed by a move to the Uk. Here he was first sent to the completion of operational training and 20. July 1943 was followed by the inclusion of the first combat unit.

Into action!
Audetovým the first operating unit has become 421. squadron, at that time located at the base of Kenley. Velelo her ace from the fighting over Malta S/Ldr Robert W. McNair (total 16-5-14 victory) and was armed with fighter planes, the Spitfire Mk.IX. Squadron participated in the ofenzívních events over the continent. "Dick" is in her delayed only a short time, the command of the with him had other plans.

Richard was already in August sent to druholiniové 1623. the squadron, whose task was the cooperation with the anti-aircraft defense unit 1. December 1943 transformed the 691. squadron with the same purpose. It was located at the airport of the navy Roborough and its main activity was towing targets for training anti-aircraft gunners, and especially the gunners on the ships. The use of a diverse range of aircraft, the main armament consisted of machine Hawker Hurricane, Boulton Paul Defiant, Airspeed Oxford and sea Fairey Barracuda. In the arsenal but was as well as the Hawker Henley, the machine, which was designed as a light bomber, the successor to the machines Fairey Battle. Before, however, was his development is completed, the RAF lost about this category of interest, and most of the two hundred produced by the machines ended up in training units.

"Dick" got the opportunity to improve your pilot skills and the control of various types of aircraft. The young Canadian finally, in the second line he spent a year in the air, he flew hundreds of hours. The change came 22. July 1944, when Richard reported 1. unit tactical training (No 1 Tactical Exercise Unit). The unit dealt with the fighter and fighter-bomber training, and the young pilot she had to freshen up combat flying. In August, hand in hand with the abolition of the 1. TEUS, shifting "Dick" on the continent and 14. September 1944 is sent to your second combat unit.

This has become a squadron, no. 411 "Grizzly Bear". It was one of the oldest canadian squadrons in Europe. Formed in June 1941 and successfully fought over occupied Europe. From July 1943 was part of the 126. canadian wings 2. tactical air army (2. TAF). At first it was no more of a change, that came after the allies landed in Normandy. 18. June 1944 the wing moved to the field airport B.4 at the Bény-sur-Mer. Might thus better fulfill your tasks – support of ground troops and their protection from the attacks of the German air force.


[b:him]Out over Osnabrückem
When she reported the "Dick" was at the airport B.44 Poix, with the passage of the allied troops, however, often changed the base, the longer-term "home" found a up to 28. October at the airport B.80 Volkel in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the twenty-third, was Audet promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant (captain) and became the commander of the squadron.

Joined to the unit just in time, she was going to because Operation Market Garden, therefore attempting to cast bridges in the cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen. It should allow the Allies to break into Germany and end the war by Christmas 1944. Operations lasting between 16. 25. September, however successful was not. In addition, 126. wing to support the action affected only marginally, attacks on rail and road transport. These activities formed the main activity of the bombs filled the Spitfire Mk.IX the canadian squadrons of the wing. 28. December 1944 he performed "Dick" 52 sorties, but never once met with enemy aircraft. But everything changed the next day.

Shortly before one o'clock in the afternoon he mounted Audet to the Spitfire Mk. IX RR201/DB-G, and took off at the head of the yellow swarm squadron on patrol in the area of the cities of Rheine - Osnabrück - Münster. On one of the railway station in Osnabrück, the Canadians destroyed 4 locomotives, 39 railway cars and other damage. Which has broken out a fire in addition extended to the surrounding buildings. After the pilots spotted the three enemy aircraft which attacked, and the two fell victim to the F/Lt Irelandovi and F/Lt Cook. Subsequently spotted a "Dick" over the city's other 12 opponents, and at the head of their section to them headed.

German aircraft, identified as eight Fw 190 and four Bf 109, circled above the airport and approaching the Canadians haven't noticed. You have struck quickly and the German formation completely subverted. The first victory, scored the F/O McCracken, then already he was in office just "Dick". His fight lasted less than ten minutes and the pilot reported 5 victories, four of which certain and one probable. During the analysis of the action, however, he was granted the destruction of the fifth German aircraft. Audet became not only an ace, and that during his first duel, but also the only pilot of the Spitfire that he shot down 5 aircraft in one flight.

Opponents 411. the squadron were the most likely aircraft the Fw 190 D-9 from 9./JG 54. Twelve "Dor" was in action also around the one with the task of patrolling in the area of Rheine. Mission but ended in a "bloodbath". Six of the pilots died, the other two aircraft were damaged, including the machines the commander of the 9. Staffel Oblt. Willi Heilmanna. The losses thus correspond to the demands of the canadian pilots.

More "notches" on the plane's
For action 29. December was Audet in February 1945 awarded the DFC, in the citation for the award, inter alia, it said: "In December 1944, the squadron engaged in combat with twenty enemy aircraft in the area of Rheine/Osnabrück. The courageous actions of the reached the P/O Audet exceptional success when he shot down five enemy aircraft. This act pays tribute to his brilliant rifle art, great bravery and tenacity."

On the next encounter with the enemy did not expect Richard long. The first day of the year 1945 launched the Luftwaffe's operation Bodenplatte. It was a run of almost one thousand aircraft at allied base in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The germans managed to destroy over 300 planes, their own losses were equally high, worse however, was that were killed, wounded or captured nearly 250 airmen. While the Allies their states have added within a few days, the Germans of them have already fully recovered

The base 126. B-wing.88 Heesch, where a unit has moved 6. December 1944, became the target of attack by fighters from the JG 6. Those above him have appeared in 9.14 ,and probably accidentally, because Heesch wasn't on the list of goals. The germans arrived just in time for launch were Spitfires 401. and 412. squadron. Their attack did not cause any damage and the Canadians managed to take off, these two units accounted for 17 certain victory. The other two squadrons of the wing, 411. and 442., at that time were already on the "sweepu", after reporting on the attack, however, turned to return. "Čtyřistačtyřicetdvojka" hit the attackers in the area of Venlo and shot 6 of the Germans. For the 411. squadron scored just Audet. This is because during a flight to the area of Osnabrück – Münster separated from the rest of the unit, and already he could not be found. He decided therefore to return. About 12 miles southwest of Enschede but stumbled on a pair of Focke-Wulfů and both sent in flames to the ground.

Three days later, the "Dick" with "stodevadesátkymi" weaved again. His squadron took off at 13:15 pm an armed exploration into the area of Hengelo. Here the Canadians encountered on the seven Fw 190 And probably from Even./JG 1. The duel was again a fairly one-sided. The pilots of the Spitfires reported 6 victory, came, however, about the aircraft RK810, whose pilot F/O Thomson fell into captivity. Audet on this success he participated in one separate and one common victory. It is shared with F/Lt John J. Boyle, another ace squadron (5+1-0-1 victory).

Media star
At that time he was already a Richard a "media" star, because the newspaper about his achievements several times reported. For example, 5. January came out this message: "Flt.-Lt. Dick Audet, originally from Lethbridge, Alberta, raised yesterday by the destruction of the German Focke-Wulf 190 and the share of the downing of another of its score on the 8 ½ victory, according to the RCAF.
Flt.-Lt. Audet, who shot down five German aircraft in less than five minutes last Friday and added two more on New year, he shared his latest success with Flt.-Lt. J. J. Boyle from Toronto.
Humiliated by the German machines were among the six sestřelenými canadian squadrons "Grizzly Bear" in the afternoon the fight with seven aircraft northeast of Hengelo in the Netherlands."

Another Focke-Wulfova fighter fell to Richard for the sacrifice on the fourteenth near the city of Enschede. Spitfires wings once again fought with aircraft from I./JG 1 and the pilots reported 11 wins. When two of their own losses, F/Lt R. Landt fell and F/O And. Urquhart was captured, prepared the Germans actually about 11 Focke-Wulfů. Ten of their pilots died and eleven were injured. The last certain victory gained Audet 23. January 1945 during the action in the area of Lingen – Münster. First caught at the airport not far from Rheine one parked 262, which immediately destroyed. Then, he saw a jet of the same type, which attempted a landing. That also did not give any chance and after a few doses of his arms dohořívaly the remnants of Me 262 about six miles northeast of that city. The following day he managed to the same type of damage, and his total bill is stopped for 10+1-0-1 victory. Then no enemy aircraft encountered.

Ubiquitous flak
At that time, were among the main tasks of the wing attacks against ground targets, these were but a heavily defended spot, and at that time it was much more dangerous than fighters of the Luftwaffe. Audet about it for the first time, convinced the 31. January 1945, when his fighter plane was slightly damaged. The same experience made even 8. February, when, together with F/O Mccracken participated in the "Rhubarbu" against the airport Twente. But they saw only a few workers, but about itself let know anti-aircraft artillery. "Dick's" Spitfire PL430 was badly hit and the Canadian thought at first that he will have to leave on a parachute. Merlin, however, finally "took" and the machine could get back to B.88. Here, however, could not land because it was not possible to Spitfire keep at low speeds in straight flight. Richard so there was nothing left but to climb to a safe altitude, and the services of the parachute eventually take advantage of.

Your supply of happiness Richard Audet 3. march 1945. Just back from a week of vacation and took off in the Spitfire MK950 on armed reconnaissance in the area of Dinslaken - Emmerich. In Coesfeldu ran into the Canadians on the train, and despite a few days of the old order, which prohibited to attack ground targets, "Dick" on the set attacked. The operator of flak, however, had good aim and Audetův the aircraft began to lose glycol and in a second he hid the flames. The Spitfire is roughly from a height of 500 feet crashed into the forest and exploded, the pilot had no chance to survive. It was "Dick's" last, 83 combat mission.

Knew that six days later it was announced the award of a second DFC: "This officer is an excellent fighter pilot. From his first fights at the end of December 1944 carried out many other sorties, during which he destroyed a further six enemy aircraft, and its overall score has 11 wins. Flight Lieutenant Audet also very effectively attacked many of the locomotives and vehicles. His skills and courage worthy of the highest praise.“

The dot for the life of a young pilot made a report of 16. march 1945:
Loss of the air force
Ottawa, 16. march 1945 — the department of national defence, aviation today has published a list of the losses of the RCAF no. 1143 for the nearest relatives appointed:
Overseas
Missing, presumed killed in air operations
AUDET, Richard Joseph. DFC, F/L, Lethbridge, Alberta

Richard's body was never found and his name is so remembered on 278. panel of the memorial at Runnymede.

Sources (selection):
Foreman, J.: Fighter Comand War Diaries, part 5, Air Research Publication, Walton-on-Thames 2004
Nijboer, D.: No 126 Wing RCAF, Osprey, Oxford, 2010
Price, And. : Late Marque Spitfire Aces 1942-45, Osprey, Oxford, 2000
Shores, C. – Thomas, C....: 2nd Tactical Air Force Vol. 2 and Vol.3, Classic Publications, Hersham 2005 and 2006
Shores, C. – Williams, C....: Aces High, Grub Street, London 1994
Urbanke, And.: Green Hearts, Eagle Editions, Hamilton 1997
http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/Audet.htm
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/index.php
www.valka.cz and https://www.valka.cz/[/resources]

Published in the journal Military revue 3/2011 label Our Troops..

Vzdušná vítězství R. J. Audeta


Tabulka vítězství

F/Lt Richard J. Audet DFC & bar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Audet