Any info please on Frank Skelton or John Arthur Ruck - Royal Flying Corps

[potty5]

Dear forum members, I am after any info on two 2nd Lts. who lost their lives during the GW. The first is Frank Skelton of 28th Squadron who lost his life on October 21, 1917 and the second, John Arthur Ruck who died on May 25, 1916. Regarding the latter, I do know he was accidentally killed near Thetford, when his machine descended in a field, turned somersault and caught fire. He died, I believe of a broken neck. Any further info on the men, the aircraft they would have been flying or any records I could order/research, would be much appreciated. Thanks, Mark.

[helpjpl]

Frank Skelton:

http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/node/1372

 

JP

 

[charlie962]

airhistory.org always a good starting point with its amazing quantity of information:

 

Frank SKELTON

                    

 

John Arthur RUCK

 

 

Charlie

 

 

 

[helpjpl]

John Arthur Ruck - Medical Student, London Hospital 1914.

University of London O.T.C. Roll of the Fallen:

Second Lieutenant Special Lists attached Royal Flying Corps. London Hospital. son of Mr M.A. Ruck of Maidstone. accidentally killed near Thetford on 25th May 1916 when his machine descended into a field, turned somersault and caught fire. buried at Maidstone.

 

Artists Rifles Regimental Roll of Honour & War Record 1914-1919 (page 7 and 165):

Gazetted to RFC 17/3/1916. Accidentally killed 25/5/1916.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CWm-BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=John+Arthur+Ruck,+RFC&source=bl&ots=qkCJlXL89a&sig=QfMsVbi-T2qv_w_flXE3jttI_Yo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwinmZWR8d_cAhUHy4UKHWn4D94Q6AEwBHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=John Arthur Ruck%2C RFC&f=false

 

25/5/1916 - Maurice Farman Longhorn 6685, 12 RS, Thetford. Overturned on forced landing and caught fire, Thetford area. 2Lt John Arthur Ruck (21) killed.

http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1916.htm

 

JP

 

Edited 9 August , 2018 by helpjpl

[charlie962]

If you now follow up the references given by airhistory you will find for example the Casualty Cards here

 

They will give you additional info. Several cards may exist for the same man. The back of the card gives Next of Kin info.

 

eg for Ruck you will see the Court of Enquiry found that in a solo flight he attempted to force-land but got into difficulties and was too inexperienced to recover in time.

(MFLH = Maurice Farnham LongHorn)

 

Charlie

[charlie962]

Frank Skelton also has an officer's Casualty Form here that shows he was admitted with a fractured skull and broken legs and died same day.

 

I didn't see such a form for Ruck.

 

Charlie

 

[potty5]

Brilliant info guys, many thanks.

[charlie962]

potty5,

When you have digested all this stuff , do please let us know the results or come back with more questions.

 

charlie

[helpjpl]

According to his Medal Index Card and entry in Medal Award Rolls, John Arthur Ruck was a Dresser with the British Red Cross Society & Order of St John's Unit No. 5 at Boulogne from 28/10/1914 to 01/01/1915 when the Dressers were recalled.

 

JP

Edited 10 August , 2018 by helpjpl