166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (British Air Force)
Died:
05/05/1943 (Killed in Action)
Age:
24
Summary
Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan was the son of Thomas Alexander Osborne Buchanan and Ellen Elizabeth Howe Buchanan, of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Thomas was born about 1919. Sgt Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan was with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve serving with the 166 Squadron. Sergeant Thomas Buchanan’s aircraft was shot down at approx 01.50 hrs on 5th May 1943, between Houten and Schalkwijk. All crew were killed and buried in Vlagtwedde.
Further Information
Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan was the son of Thomas Alexander Osborne Buchanan and Ellen Elizabeth Howe Buchanan, of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Thomas was born about 1919.
No 166 Squadron's formation as a Snipe unit was proposed on 9 May 1918, for a deployment to France on 28 September, but these plans were cancelled. It eventually did form, but as a Handley Page V/1500 bomber unit. The squadron did not become operational, although it was 31st May 1919 before it was disbanded.
The squadron reformed at Boscombe Down by upgrading 'A' Flight of No 97 Squadron on 1 November 1936. Initially equipped with Heyfords, these were exchanged for Whitleys in June 1939. However, in June 1938, the squadron had adopted a training role and this continued until 6 April 1940, when the squadron was merged with No 97 to form No 10 Operational Training Unit at Abingdon.
It was 27 January 1943 before the squadron re-emerged when detachments of No's 142 and 150 Squadron were amalgamated into No 166 (Motto: Tenacity) at Kirmington. Equipped with Wellingtons, it immediately joined the night bombing offensive, re-equipping with Lancasters in September 1943.
Sgt Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan was with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve serving with the 166 Squadron.
Sergeant Thomas Buchanan's aircraft allegedly shot down by OFW Karl Heinz Scherfling of 10 or 4 NJG1. It crashed at approx 01.50 hrs on 5th May 1943, between Houten and Schalkwijk, some 20 kilometres west of Arnhem Bridge. Other reports say a/c brought down by Flak (and finished off by fighter). All crew killed and buried in Vlagtwedde. The Aircraft code was AS-'P Peter'.
The crew of the aircraft were : F/Andrew Peter Uditsky RCAF Pilot, F/Sgt Ernest Nixon Moore RCAF Air Bomber, F/Sgt John Theo Macksimchuck RCAF Navigator and Sgt Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan RAFVR Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.
Sergeant T.A.S. Buchanan died on 5th May 1943, age 24.
