Victor Anthony Ricketts

[Andy Fletcher]

This my first post on this forum so please forgive me if I've posted in the wrong area. Genealogy is outside my normal area of research.

For some time I have been researching the careers of RAF aircrew involved in photographic reconnaissance during WWII. One of the individuals I'd like to find out more about is F/Lt Victor Anthony Ricketts. What I'd really like is to try and establish contact with any family members who have more details on his service in the RAF.

He was KIA on 12 Jul 42. The CWGC site gives this additional information - Son of William Ellacott Ricketts and Annie Ricketts; husband of Dorothy Ricketts (nee Perkins), of Streatham, London, England. I've also found out he was a Cornishman.

Prewar he was the air reporter for the Daily Express and a member of the team that established the world record flight to New Zealand in 1938. I've tried contacting the Daily Express but have not received an answer.

Any help would be most welcome.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Thomasin]

William Ellacott Ricketts and Annie Parker were married in Lambeth in 1903 (by coincidence they are on the same page as my great uncle Edward and great aunt Caroline).

Victor A Ricketts was born in Penzance (mother's name Parker) in 1913. He married Dorothy Perkins in Wandsworth in 1934.

[Thomasin]

There seems to have been a daughter born in 1939 - I'll send you a PM.

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Thomasin,

Thank you for the info and for the PM.

Best Regards

Andy

[Thomasin]

Have you seen Victor's Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate on Ancestry?

It's number 15388:
RICKETTS, Victor Anthony, 31, Deauville Court, London, S.W.4
Born 27th Jan 1913 at Penzance
Nationality Journalist
Rank, Regiment, Profession British
Certificate taken on D.H. Moth Gipsy II 105 h.p.
At London Air Park Flying Club Hanworth
Date 8.2.36

Nationality and Rank were transposed - it's not my typing.

[helachau]

The Times (on line) has a number of items about the flight to New Zealand in 1938 - including a picture of him and Clouston at the controls before taking off from Gravesend.

Can provide details - will send a PM

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Thomasin,

Thanks for posting the Aero Club Cert. details, I had already obtained a copy but never even noticed that the Rank and Nationality fields were transposed.

Thanks for your ongoing help.

Cheers

Andy

[Andy Fletcher]

I have seen some images of Clouston and Ricketts online, though not in the Times. They are probably the same series of photos that appear in Clouston's "The Dangerous Skies" but I would still appreciate details just in case they are ones I haven't seen before.

Cheers

Andy

[helachau]

Andy,
Articles sent earlier today - good luck with the project

[Andy Fletcher]

Articles received, many thanks for sending them.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher