Francis Rudd Sergeant R/187471 431 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force May 14, 1925 Abbey Town, Cumberland, England November 17, 1942 Edmonton, Alberta Erskine, Alberta 17 5 feet, 9½ inches Fair Hazel Blonde Single Church of England Thomas Rudd (Father October 9, 1943 18 Hanover War Cemetery, Germany 3. D. 15.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Grave Reference:

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Francis (Frank) Rudd was the son of Thomas Rudd and Annie Margaret (Marshal) Rudd and the brother of Thomas William Rudd and Albert John Rudd. Both brothers served overseas during WWII. Thomas Rudd was a Sapper with the Royal Canadian Engineers and was killed in action on September 19, 1944. In March, 1927 the family moved from the United Kingdom to Canada. Frank completed grade ten in 1941 at age 16 and was then employed as a mechanic. His hobby was model aircraft building and he was engaged in horse racing. Frank served in the Air Cadets in May, 1940 until May 1941. From June, 1942 until October 1942 Frank served as a Trooper with the the 14th Army Tank Regiment (The Calgary Tank Regiment) at Slettler, Alberta and was discharged to serve in the RCAF. Following initial RCAF training in Canada and receiving his Air Gunners Badge on July 9, 1943, he embarked at New York on August 3, 1943, and disembarked in the United Kingdom on August 8, 1943. In England he was assigned to No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit on August 20, 1943. He then was taken on strength with 431 Squadron on September 21, 1943. At 11:00 pm on the night of October 8, Sergeant Frank Rudd was an Air Gunner on Halifax V LX657 that departed RAF Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire, with a crew of eight, for bombing operations over Hanover, Germany. The aircraft failed to return and it was later determined that the aircraft blew up in the air and crashed at Kleinburgwedel, Germany. Seven members of the crew, including Sergeant Frank Rudd, were killed. Pilot Officer Albin Rotjack was blown out of the aircraft and survived, becoming a prisoner of war.