Wheatley, Ronald
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Ronald |
Surname | Wheatley |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Ernest and Mary Elizabeth Wheatley, of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR678 |
Markings | TL-N |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 8. C. 12-15. |
Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN" EVER REMEMBERED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 263 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 412053 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-04-1943 |
End Date | 15-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (72% moon) |
Operation | Stuttgart. 462 aircraft, 23 losses (5.0%). PFF claimed accurate marking but the bombing was concentrated to the north east. This is an example of a phenomenon called 'creepback' where successive crews would release their bombs earlier and earlier on an effort to turn for home as quickly as possible. Fortunately the bombed suburbs included many industrial installations so some useful damage was caused. An air raid shelter packed with French and Russian PoWs was hit, increasing the death toll to 619, a new record. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter from 18000' |