Hutchinson, Ronald
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ronald |
Surname | Hutchinson |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-04-1941 |
Next of Kin | Son of Edmund and Margaret Hutchinson, of Sunderland, Co. Durham. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | T2897 |
Markings | OJ-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Sever-Calvados Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 2-6. |
Epitaph | EVER REMEMBERED BY HIS FATHER AND BROTHER |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 187 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 942328 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 149 (East India) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
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 |
Location | St. George's Church, Methwold, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour & inscribed window |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 149 Sqn RAF and a window remembering the men and women of all Nations who served at RAF Methwold, 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Sgt Ken Rawlings survived and became a prisoner of war. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/5831 (P358331/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1001/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1001/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-04-1941 |
End Date | 13-04-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Mérignac |
Reason for Loss | The crew had indicated over w/t that they were experiencing engine trouble close to the target which may be the reason that they took a more direct route home than the one planned. Doubting they could make it back to England, they deliberately lost height in an effort to execute a forced landing. Sgt. Rawlings bailed out with a flare in order to seek a flat field for the aircraft to attempt a landing but on the approach the aircraft struck a tall chimney belonging to the village bakery and crashed in the centre of the village, also killing nine French villagers. Crashed near St. Sever-Calvados, almost certainly of mechanical failure. |