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Flight Lieutenant Ronald
George Layley was serving as Bomb Aimer on Lancaster Mk.III
JA935 coded MG-O
during an operation to Braunschweig April
4/5, 1945. The aircraft left Oakington at 1659hrs 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 |
Wireless Air Gunner |
Cannock, Staffs. |
23 |
|
F/Sgt Leslie Whitear |
RAFVR |
Air Gunner |
Dunmow, Essex |
22 |
|
F/Sgt Lawrence Hartman |
RAFVR |
Air Gunner |
Ware, Herts. |
31 |
Flight Lieutenant
Ronald George Layley RAFVR was the son of Arthur and Flora of
Kingsclere, Hampshire and husband of Joyce of Sutton Coldfield,
Birmingham. He attended Patterson House school in May 1924
where he was an excellent rugby player, captaining his House
Rugby team in 1931-2. He obtained a London Matriculation
Certificate (first division) in 1932 and as well as being made
school prefect in September 1931 was awarded the Patterson
Scholarship.
After leaving school he
joined the Metropolitan Police Force and his work seemed to
mark him out for high promotion. He captained his Divisional
Rugby Team and served in the Police Force through the earlier
Blitz on London, an experience that made him decide to join
the R.A.F. He was soon commissioned and rose to the rank of
Flight Lieutenant, holding an important position in the
Pathfinder Force. He took part in many raids on enemy
territory and had called in at his old school barely a month
before he was reported missing. He was the 27 year old Air
Bomber of the crew. His brother Geoffrey who served in 218
Squadron was killed on the 27th January 1943 and is
buried in Hanover War Cemetery also.
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