Pittard, Ronald William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Ronald William |
Surname | Pittard |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Archibald George and Ethel Pittard, of Homerton, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling I |
Serial Number | BK611 |
Markings | LS-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Nijmegen |
Grave Reference | 24. A. 1. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF RON. OUR DEAR SON. ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 226 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1387554 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
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 |
Miscellaneous Information
Aircraft nickname: Te-Kooti. This aircraft had achieved at least 29 operational sorties when Lost |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/58 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/57 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-05-1943 |
End Date | 26-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (57% moon) |
Operation | Dusseldorf. 759 aircraft, 27 losses (3.6%). This raid was a failure since PFF had great difficulty in marking the target due to two layers of cloud. Decoy fires and markers were also being operated. Bombing was scattered as a result. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak close to the target as a result of which the bombs were jettisoned. One of the air gunners baled out in the confusion. The aircraft turned for home but was forced to crash-land close to Venlo, Holland |