Sergeant Pittard is believed to have baled when the second order to abandon was given but was killed in action
Pittard, Ronald William (Sergeant)
Killed in Action 1943-May-26
Birth Date: 1921
Born:
Parents: Son of Archibald George and Ethel Pittard, of Homerton, London
Spouse:
Home: Homerton, London
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
15 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Aim Sure
Base
RAF Mildenhall
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Flight Engineer
Service Numbers
1387554
Home
Homerton, London
Target
Dusseldorf Germany
Temporary Burial
Cemetery at Venlo, Holland, near crash site
Remains were later exhumed from this location and reburied
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Stirling BK611
Mission
Stirling Mk. l BK611
Bombing 1943-May-25 to 1943-May-26
15 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Mildenhall
15 Squadron (Aim Sure) RAF Mildenhall. Short Stirling I aircraft BK 611 LS-U nicknamed "Te-Kooti" was struck by flak during the run-in to bomb targets in Dusseldorf, Germany and jettisoned their bomb-load. Control of the aircraft was regained and turned for home but the Stirling crash-landed west of the River Maas near Venlo, Holland with the loss of three aircrew members
FS JO Wilson (RAAF), Sergeant RW Pittard (RAFVR) and Sergeant P Arnott (RAFVR) were killed in action
Sergeant EF Seabolt (RCAF) baled after the flak hit, survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
Flight Lieutenant BE Cooper (RAF), Sergeant SJ Maxted (RAF) and Sergeant AW Edgley (RAF) survived and evaded for a time but all were eventually arrested and became Prisoners of War
ResultsStirling BK611 Mk. l - Bombing - 1943-05-25 to 1943-05-26
Squadron: 15 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-05-25
Completion Date: 1943-05-26
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Mildenhall
Take Off Time: 23:56
Squadron Code: LS-U
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Netherlands
Crash Specifics: west of the River Maas near Venlo
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery: unspecified
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group May 25/26, 1943
9 Halifaxes from 408 Squadron were joined by 62 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 94,000 lbs of high explosives and 133,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
15 Squadron (Aim Sure) RAF Mildenhall. Short Stirling I aircraft BK 611 LS-U nicknamed "Te-Kooti" was struck by flak during the run-in to bomb targets in Dusseldorf, Germany and jettisoned their bomb-load. Control of the aircraft was regained and turned for home but the Stirling crash-landed west of the River Maas near Venlo, Holland with the loss of three aircrew members
FS JO Wilson (RAAF), Sergeant RW Pittard (RAFVR) and Sergeant P Arnott (RAFVR) were killed in action
Sergeant EF Seabolt (RCAF) baled after the flak hit, survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
Flight Lieutenant BE Cooper (RAF), Sergeant SJ Maxted (RAF) and Sergeant AW Edgley (RAF) survived and evaded for a time but all were eventually arrested and became Prisoners of War