Name
Ronald Davies
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/12/1944
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Leading Aircraftman
1128796
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
617 Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Panel 241.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Biography
His Service Number was 1128796 and he served in 617 Squadron. He had been Mentioned in Despatches. This was the famous ‘Dambusters’ Pathfinder Squadron and at the time seems to have been flying both Mosquito fighter bombers and Lancaster bombers all based at Lossiemouth east of Inverness in Scotland.
At the time of his death he was a Flight Mechanic (Airframes) at No. 33 Base R.A.F. Waterbeach No. 3 Group in Bomber Command. There was an explosion at 10.15hrs on the 29th December 1944 during the loading of bombs onto Lancaster III PD 325 of 514 Squadron. Nine personnel were killed, four injured and four Lancasters were damaged. His body was not found, and his death was presumed.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 241 of the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing at Egham in Surrey.
He was the son of Isaac and Naomi Davies of Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Mr B. North (617 Squadron Archivist), Ministry of Defence (Air Historical Branch), ‘RAF Squadrons’ by C.G. Jefford, ‘Bomber Command Losses - 1944’ by W.R. Chorley
