Hainsworth, Ronald William
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | Ronald William |
Surname | Hainsworth |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 07-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harold Edward and Clara Jane Hainsworth. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | PA965 |
Markings | -D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. A. 26. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON. ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS. MUM, DAD AND FAMILY |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 175 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1321011 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Description of incident précised from "Hell on Earth" by Mel Rolfe (Grub Street, 2001. ISBN 1-902304-95-0) |
Joint citation for Angus Robb CGM and Roy Bentley Van Metre DFC, Gazetted 18 May 1945: "Pilot Officer Van Metre and Warrant Officer Robb were wireless operator and mid-upper gunner respectively in an aircraft detailed to attack Dessau one night in March 1945. Whilst over the target the aircraft was attacked by three enemy fighters. The first enemy aircraft to attack was shot down by the rear gunner. Warrant Officer Robb engaged the second fighter. Following a short but accurate burst of fire from his guns the enemy aircraft fell to the ground. The remaining fighter attacked with great persistence. The rear gun turret of the bomber was badly hit and set on fire. The rear gunner was trapped. Pilot Officer Van Metre and Warrant Officer Robb, displaying the greatest determination, immediately went to the assistance of their trapped comrade. By their joint efforts, these crew members finally extinguished the flames and extricated the rear gunner from the gun turret. Pilot Officer Van Metre had severely burned his hands. In spite of much pain he returned to his post to work at his wireless apparatus throughout the return flight. Pilot Officer Van Metre and Warrant Officer Robb set a fine example of courage and resolution in very trying circumstances." |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-03-1945 |
End Date | 08-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Gransden Lodge |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Dessau- to drop target markers after the main force had bombed to give the stragglers a target indicator. |
Reason for Loss | Attacked by three Ju88s. The first was promptly despatched by Hainsworth, the rear gunner, before getting chance to fire on the Lancaster. The second was also finished off but not before it had fired cannon shells into the fuselage, putting the mid-upper gun turret out of action (but the gunner, Angus Robb, unharmed) and leaving the rear gun turret a white-hot ball of flame. The mid-upper gunner hoped that the rear gunner had been able to make his escape but when he and the wireless operator attended the fire with extinguishers they realised that he was still half in and half out of the turret. The hydraulic lines had been severed and were fuelling the intense fire, along with the oxygen streaming from severed BA lines. Meanwhile the remaining Ju88 had circled around and was again bombarding the aircraft, which the pilot was now struggling to control. Realising that Hainsworth would never survive the journey back, even if still alive, Robb took the difficult decision to free his feet and allow him to fall to earth in the hope that he would get medical attention more quickly in German hands. He did so while holding onto the D-ring of the parachute so that it would open as soon as he was free. It is very unlikely that the parachute was free of damage and in all likelihood, Hainsworth was already dead. With the intercom out, scribbled notes were passed around the remaining crew and a decision made to return to Gransden Lodge on two engines. Despite an equally dramatic return journey, they made a safe return to base. |