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Warrant Officer Ronald
Haywood was serving as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner on board Lancaster
Mk.III JA935 coded MG-O during an operation to Braunschweig on the
January 14/15 1945. The aircraft left Oakington at 1659hrs to
attack the target but failed to return. The
entire crew was lost.
The crew consisted of:
|
Name |
Service |
Trade |
Hometown |
Age |
|
F/L David Thomas - DFC |
RAFVR |
Pilot |
- |
- |
|
P/O William Clegg |
RAFVR |
Flight Engineer |
St.Helens,Lancs. |
23 |
|
F/L Ronald Crease - DFC |
RAFVR |
Navigator |
- |
- |
|
F/L Ronald Layley |
RAFVR |
Bomb Aimer |
Kingsclere,Hampshire |
27 |
|
W/O Ronald Haywood - CGM |
RAFVR |
W/Op/AG |
Cannock, Staffs. |
23 |
|
F/Sgt Leslie Whitear |
RAFVR |
Air Gunner |
Dunmow, Essex |
22 |
|
F/Sgt Lawrence Hartman |
RAFVR |
Air Gunner |
Ware, Herts. |
31 |
Ronald
Haywood RAFVR was born in 1921 at Hednesford and was the
son of Joseph and Eliza Haywood of 7 Longstaff Ave, Rawnsley,
Cannock, Staffordshire. He was one of 5 brothers (one in the
R.A.M.C. in Italy and one in the Navy) and 3 sisters. He
attended Rawnsley Council School and later the County Mining
College. He was employed by the Cannock and Rugeley colliery
company, working with the surveyors. A keen musician, he
joined, at a very early age, the Territorials with whom his
brother and father served. He played the clarinet in that band
and also the Hednesford Town band.
Newspaper cutting of Ronald Missing Newspaper cutting of Ronald Missing Newspaper cutting of Ronald's Gallantry Award Letter from Buckinghma Palace Ronald's father and sister Margaret Holding Gallantry Medal
When he reached the age of
eighteen his ambition to join the Air Force was realised, and
before he was twenty he was serving as a Wireless Operator in
the Middle East. News of his award for the Conspicuous
Gallantry Medal came after he hade made over ninety
operational flights and had been reported missing in action.
On the 12th February 1946, his parents and sister,
Margaret proudly attended Buckingham Palace to receive his
post humous award, his citation reads:
| "He
has had an outstanding operational record (he made
over ninety flights). He has served with distinction
in both the European and Middle East theatres of war
and has attacked some of the most heavily defended
targets in Germany and Italy, including Berlin,
Peenemunde and Milan. At all times his courage and
resolution in the face of the enemy, have been
exemplary" |
He and his
crew are buried in the Hanover War Cemetery.
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