Hales, Ronald Douglas
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ronald Douglas |
Surname | Hales |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Sydney Morris Hales and Elsie Hales, of Slough, Buckinghamshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | LM534 |
Markings | LS-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Viroflay New Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row A. Grave 36. |
Epitaph | HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT BE FREE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 175 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1895806 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/204/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/204/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-06-1944 |
End Date | 08-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Massy-Palaiseau to bomb railway installations. Part of a 337 bomber strong force to bomb various lines of communications behind the Normandy beachhead. There was less cloud cover than the previous night with all targets being accurately bombed and fewer civilians killed. Because the targets were further inland than recent raids, the German night-fighters had a greater opportunity to infiltrate the bomber stream and as a result, losses were higher. 28 aircraft were Lost (8.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Bonnelles (Yvelines), France |