Ronald Critchley was born in 1920 and came from St Helens, Lancashire, England. As a boy he attended the Holy Cross School and on leaving he became a compositor apprentice at a local printing firm.
He joined the RAF in 1938 where he trained as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner and in December 1939 was transferred to 103 Squadron who were then stationed in France as part of the Advanced Air Strike Force. At this time the Squadron were equipped with the single engined Fairey Battle bomber. The war on this front was, at that time, in a quiet phase and the Squadron were mostly engaged on routine reconnaissance and training.
On the 10th May 1940 the Germans launched their major offensive against France. On the 12th May 1940 Ronald flew on his first operation with Pilot Officer Hayter, a daylight low level attack on enemy bridges. During this attack they were chased by 3 German Bf 110s but managed to escape. The Fairey Battle squadrons were taking very heavy losses and the aircraft was clearly vulnerable to enemy fighters and flak. Inspite of this they continued to fly operations in a desperate attempt to stem the advancing German forces and Ronald was continually flying operations against heavily defended troop concentrations and airfields.
On the 12th June 1940 he flew again with Pilot Officer Hayter in an attack on a German bridge North East of Paris. During this operation a Henschel 126 attacked them. Ronald fired 50 rounds at the attacking aircraft and believed he had shot it down.
With the situation in France clearly hopeless and the collapse of France imminent 103 Squadron were ordered back to Abingdon in England on the 15th June 1940.
Sgt R Critchley, RAF
