| |
 | |||
Warrant Officer Ronald Howard Boyd RAAF | |||
Ronald Howard Boyd was born in Knightsbridge (now Leabrook), Adelaide, South Australia on the 11th November 1911. His parents were Mr and Mrs Edward James Boyd. Educated at Norwood High School from 1925-29 he attended Adelaide University in 1929 to study as a teacher, gaining degrees in Chemistry 1, Geology 1, Geography 1, and Education. In addition he was also a qualified woodwork teacher. Ron undertook compulsory 6 months military training and was also a member of the 10th Battalion Senior Cadets for 2 years from 1927 to 1929. After completing his University studies he was appointed as a teacher at Wilkawatt in the South East of the State. On the 2nd July 1940 Ron applied for enlistment to the Royal Australian Air Force. On the 3rd March 1941 he was accepted and was posted to the No 4 Initial Training School at Mount Breckan, Victor Harbour with the rank of Aircraftsman II. He married his fiancee on the 24th April 1941 and on the 26th April he was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman. After completion of 2 months basic training he was posted to No 2 Air Observers School at Mount Gambier and then, on the 24th August, was posted to No 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at Port Pirie where he gained his Air Observers Badge on the 18th October 1941. Ron was then posted to No 2 Air Navigation School on the 20th October and successfully completed an Astro Navigation Course and was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on the 13th November. On the 21st November he returned to Adelaide to await further orders and on the 1st February 1942 underwent further training at No 5 SFTS, at Uranquinty NSW securing a promotion to Flight Sergeant on the 13th May 1942. From the 22nd May to the 29th May Ron was to spend some time at home with his wife and was able to visit his family. In August 1942 Ron embarked for Britain and, on arrival was posted to RAF Bournemouth. On the 29th March 1943 he was posted to 1 Advanced Flying Unit and on the 27th April 1943 to 27 Operational Training Unit at RAF Wigtown in Scotland. It was here that he was promoted to Warrant Officer on the 13th May 1943. After 8 months he was posted again to 30 Operational Training Unit at Lichfield in Staffordshire, England and, on the 15th February 1944, to 11 Base at RAF Lindholme. On the 12th April 1944 Ron and the rest of the crew of which he was a part were posted to 103 Squadron at Elsham Wolds. The crew consisted of :- Pilot - Squadron Leader H Swanston RAF Age 32 Flight Engineer - Sergeant D A Hadden RAF Age 22 Navigator - Flying Officer E J Dane RAF Age 23 Air Gunner - Sergeant G F Casey RCAF Age 32 Air Bomber - Warrant Officer R H Boyd RAAF Age 32 Wireless Operator - Warrant Officer J C Smith RAF Age 23 Air Gunner - Sergeant H Rankin RCAF Squadron Leader Swanston was the new commander of A Flight of 103 Squadron. This crew participated in a raid on the railway yards at Rouen, France on the night of the 18/19th April 1944. They did not fly again until the the night of the 3/4th May 1944 when they took part in an attack on an important German military base at Mailly-le-Camp in France. This proved to be a very costly attack for Bomber Command. A serious and unforeseen communication problem meant the Main Force Controller was unable to give the bombers the orders to commence their attack after the target had been precisely marked by the Pathfinders. Whilst the bombers orbited their holding point the German night fighters made contact in strength. Many Lancasters were shot down during this period and after the order to attack was finally given. The target was, however, accurately bombed and much damage was caused to the German base. 42 Lancasters were lost out of a total of 346 taking part in the raid amongst them Lancaster ND905 flown by Squadron Leader Swanston and crew. The Lancaster was almost certainly a night fighter victim and crashed near Chalons-sur-Marne in the area of Villers-le-Chateau. Ron Boyd is buried, along with the rest of this crew, in the churchyard at Villers-le-Chateau. We are very grateful to Mr Keith Bailey of Kadina, South Australia for given his permission to use information from his excellent research project on Ron Boyd and also the 2 photographs used in this item. | |
 | ||
Squadron Leader H Swanston RAF and crew Back Row L to R. Dennis Hadden, George Basey, Jack Rankin, John Smith. | ||