CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
BEALES |
First Name/s: |
Ronald |
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Service No/s: |
1868744 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Flight Engineer |
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Awards: |
1939-1945 Star, France & Germany Star, 1939-1945 War Medal |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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09 Apr 1943 |
Enlisted at No. 2 Recruit Centre (RC), Cardington, Bedfordshire, as Aircraftman Second Class (AC2), and mustering as Air Crew Hand (Flight Engineer). |
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10 Apr 1943 |
Attended No. 4 Aviation Candidates’ Selection Board at Cardington, Bedfordshire, where he was recommended for training as Flight Engineer. He was then transferred to the Reserve, pending call-up. |
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22 Aug 1943 |
Called up to No. 1 Air Crew Reception Centre (ACRC), Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London. |
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18 Sep 1943 |
No. 3 Initial Training Wing (ITW), St James’ Hotel, Torquay, Devon. |
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10 Nov 1943 |
No. 4 School of Technical Training (SoTT), 94 (Flight Engineer) Course, St Athan, Glamorgan, Wales. |
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03 May 1944 |
Awarded Flight Engineer’s brevet, promoted to Sergeant, and remustered as Flight Engineer. |
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20 May 1944 |
No. 11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire; administrative Base for No. 1 Group heavy bomber conversions. |
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21 May 1944 |
No. 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Marston Moor, Yorkshire. Date to be confirmed. |
Halifax |
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01 Sep 1944 |
No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School (LFS), Hemswell, Lincolnshire. Date to be confirmed. |
Lancaster |
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27 Sep 1944 |
No. 576 Squadron, ‘A’ Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
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08 Mar 1945 |
Lost in PD363 UL-K2 (Dessau), aged 38 |
Lancaster |
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576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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14 Oct 1944 |
PB472 |
UL-E2 |
DUISBURG |
2330 |
0445 |
5h15 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Operation HURRICANE. Built-up area to the north of the docks Load: B2, K2, M2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2,732x 4lb incendiaries All other a/c: 12x 1,000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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19 Oct 1944 |
PB635 |
UL-N2 |
STUTTGART |
1700 |
0010 |
7h10 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Bad Constatt marshalling yards & Robert Bosche works Load: F2,G2,K2,N2,Q2,Y2,Z2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’ & 1,800x 4lb incendiaries All other a/c: 9x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs First Wave: Bad Constatt marshalling yards. |
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23 Oct 1944 |
NE115 |
UL-B2 |
ESSEN |
1615 |
2200 |
5h45 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Built-up & Industrial areas (incl. Krupps) Load: B2,J2,N2,Z2: 1x 4000lb and 2220x 4lb incendiaries. All other a/c: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs |
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25 Oct 1944 |
NE115 |
UL-B2 |
ESSEN |
1255 |
1800 |
5h05 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
2 APs in the Krupps works Load: B2, J2, N2, Z2: 1x 4,000lb, 2,220x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 11x 1,000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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28 Oct 1944 |
ND521 |
UL-L2 |
COLOGNE |
1335 |
1855 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Two APs: Mulheim district of Cologne, and the SW part of the city. Load: A2, B2, C2, F2, G2, N2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2,332x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 5x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs 6 aircraft were scheduled to attack the Mulheim AP first, followed by the rest on the second AP. |
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30 Oct 1944 |
PA173 |
UL-G2 |
COLOGNE |
1745 |
0005 |
6h20 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
NW Area of City Load: F2, G2, I2, J2, M2, R2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2070x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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31 Oct 1944 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
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nk |
nk |
0h15 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Transit ELSHAM WOLDS – FISKERTON (Times N/K). Passengers: 973 Warrens FMA 725 Darby FME |
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04 Nov 1944 |
PA173 |
UL-G2 |
BOCHUM |
1730 |
2230 |
5h00 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Built-up area RUHR Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. COMBAT – Attacked three times by Ju88 just before bombing run. Aircraft badly damaged but landed safely: no crew injuries reported. Combat report attached. |
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06 Nov 1944 |
ME317 |
UL-C2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN (NORDSTERN) |
1155 |
1620 |
4h25 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Nordstern synthetic oil plant Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6 or 7x 500lb bombs. |
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09 Nov 1944 |
ME317 |
UL-C2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Synthetic Oil Plant Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Nov 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
DORTMUND |
1600 |
2110 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Hoesch Benzin GmbH synthetic oil plant Load: J2, Q2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, ?x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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18 Nov 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
1550 |
2125 |
5h35 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Krupps synthetic oil plant RUHR Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs Most aircraft diverted to Bury St Edmunds (Rougham), Tempsford or Mepal due to poor visibility - only four Squadron aircraft landed at base. |
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29 Nov 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
DORTMUND |
1215 |
1725 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Industrial and rail targets within the built-up area RUHR Load: K2, Q2, R2, W2, Z2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 14 x No.14 incendiary clusters, and 120 x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 5x 1,000lb and 7x 500lb bombs. |Hit by flak. Landed with the assistance of FIDO. |
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03 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
URFT DAM |
0735 |
1200 |
4h25 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Walled masonry dam Load: 14x 1000lb bombs Master Bomber called off the attack due low cloud over target and the proximity of Allied troops. All aircraft returned with bombloads. |
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04 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
KARLSRUHE |
1630 |
2315 |
6h45 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Built-up area Load: C2, H2, Q2, X2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 14 x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries A2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 4x 1000lb, and 9x 500lb bombs All other aircraft: 13x or 12x 1000lb bombs. |
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06 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
MERSEBURG |
1640 |
0055 |
8h15 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery, Leuna Load: F2, I2, L2, P2, W2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 5x500lb bombs A2, G2, Q2, R2, X2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs Y2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 10x 500lb bombs B2, D2, J2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 11x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries C2, H2, K2, M2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 12 x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries. |
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15 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1335 |
1435 |
1h00 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. RG: F A West |
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17 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
ULM |
1510 |
2235 |
7h25 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Marshalling yards, and Magirius-Deutz & Kassbohrer lorry factories Load: A2, H2, I2, P2, T2, Y2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1604x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x No.15 and 5x No.14 incendiary clusters, and 120x 4lb incendiaries. |
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22 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
KOBLENZ |
1505 |
2200 |
6h55 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Marshalling yards Load: C2, H2, I2, O2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb and 6 or7x 500lb bombs All other aircraft: 13x 1000lb bombs On return the Squadron was ordered to divert to Charterhall in Scotland due to poor weather across most of England. All aircraft landed at Charterhall except L2 and Y2 which landed at Manston, and T2 which landed at Carnaby. Diverted to Charterhall. |
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23 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Charterhall-Base |
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29 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
SCHOLVEN BUER |
1530 |
2050 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Hydeierwerke Scholven synthetic oil refinery in Gelsenkirchen Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. |
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02 Jan 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
NUREMBURG |
1450 |
2305 |
8h15 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Marshalling Yards & Built-up Area Load: C2, D2, J2, L2, O2, X2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 1,598x 4lb incendiaries A2, F2, G2, H2, K2, Q2, V2, W2, Y2 1x4000lb, 14x 500 R2 1x 4000lb, 4x 1000lb, 5x 500lb |
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16 Jan 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
ZEITZ – TROGLITZ |
1730 |
0115 |
7h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Braunkohle Benzin synthetic oil plant (low grade MT fuel) Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs. Sighted Fw190 – no combat |
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22 Jan 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
DUISBURG |
1650 |
2200 |
5h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area of the city and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen Load: All aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. |
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28 Jan 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
STUTTGART (ZUFFENHAUSEN) |
1950 |
0235 |
6h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Hirth aero-engine factory & Boash ignition works Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 12x 500lb bombs. (First force attacked the railyards at Kornwestheim) Sighted Ju88 but did not engage due to range. |
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03 Feb 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
BOTTROP |
1630 |
2200 |
5h30 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Prosper coking plant & benzol refinery Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs Sighted a bomber being shot down after being coned at 1937. |
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08 Feb 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
POLITZ |
1925 |
0335 |
8h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
IG Farben synthetic oil plant 5333.5N 01444.5E Master Bomber: Snodgrass 1 & 2 MF: Press On Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 10x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Feb 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
CHEMNITZ |
2000 |
0435 |
8h35 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP - City Load: B, C, F, J, K, N: 1x 2000lb, 1478x 4lb incendiaries L: 1x 2000lb, 1650x 4lb incebdiaries All other a/c: 1x 4000lb, 1170x 4lb incendiaries. |
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20 Feb 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
DORTMUND |
2135 |
0350 |
6h15 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Rhenania Ossag oil refinery, Reisholz district RUHR Load: M, N, O, P, Q, R, T, V: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1,604x 4lb incendiaries. X: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’ and 2,220x 4lb incendiaries. J, K, L: 1x 2,000lb bomb and 2,100x 4lb incendiaries. B, C, D, F, H: 1x 2,000lb bomb and 1,846x 4lb incendiaries. |
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02 Mar 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
COLOGNE |
0700 |
1220 |
5h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Roads to W of the Rhine leading to Hohenzollern Bridge Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 10x 500lb, 2x 500lb, and 4x 250lb bombs. Starboard outer engine failure on return leg over France - returned on three engines. |
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05 Mar 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
CHEMNITZ |
1645 |
0200 |
9h15 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Built-up area – Flown in support of Operation THUNDERCLAP Load: D, F, H, M, N, P, X, Y: 1x4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 2000lb bomb and 1650x 4lb incendiaries. |
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07 Mar 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
DESSAU |
1655 |
FTR |
uk |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Paley |
NOTES: |
Built-up area Load: D, G, H, K, L, M, N, W, X, Z: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1170x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 2000lb, 1650x 4lb incendiaries. 08 Mar 45 – All lost in PD363 UL-K2 Details of the fate of the aircraft is not known, although it was heard broadcasting the winds at 2135. The aircraft crashed in Bauhofstr., Ziebigk, a SW suburb of Dessau. There were no survivors. The crew were initially buried at the cemetery in Dessau, which, post-war, was in the Russian Zone. In 1947 the Russians finally allowed access to the allies Missing Persons Research units. In error, the Americans transferred all the remains from isolated cemeteries such as Dessau to one of the US cemeteries in France. In 1949, the error was discovered by the British and the crew reburied in the French cemetery at Choloy Buried at the Choloy War Cemetery, France, Coll. grave 4.C.1-7. |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |
