CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
IRELAND |
First Name/s: |
William Ronald "Ron" |
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Service No/s: |
1332213 & 171648 (commissioned) |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Pilot |
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Awards: |
DFC, 1939-1945 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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22 Jan 1941 |
Enlisted the the RAF Volunteer Reserve at No.1 Recruiting Centre (1 RC), Uxbridge, Middlesex, as Aircraftman Second Class (AC2), and mustering as Air Crew Hand (Pilot) |
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23 Jan 1941 |
Attended No.1A Aviation Candidates Selection Board (ACSB) at Uxbridge, Middlesex, where he was recommended for training as a Pilot or Observer |
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23 Jan 1941 |
No.9 Recruit Centre (9 RC), Blackpool, Lancashire; for basic drill and training |
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07 Mar 1941 |
Attached to No.5 Bombing & Gunnery School (5 B&GS), Jurby, Isle of Man |
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22 May 1941 |
No.11 Elementary Flying Training School (11 EFTS), Perth, Perthshire, Scotland; probably for pilot aptitude assessments |
Tiger Moth tbc |
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14 Jun 1941 |
No.1 Receiving Wing (1RW), Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon; this would be an administrative posting prior to attending formal initial training |
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15 Jun 1941 |
No.11 Initial Training Wing (11 ITW), Prince of Wales Hotel, Scarborough, Yorkshire |
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19 Aug 1941 |
No.50 (Training) Group Pool, promoted to Leading Aircraftman, and remustered as under training Pilot |
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12 Oct 1941 |
No.3 Service Flying Training School (3 SFTS), 57 Course, South Cerney, Gloucestershire |
Oxford |
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14 Feb 1942 |
Awarded Pilot's flying badge, promoted to Sergeant, and remustered as Pilot |
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22 Feb 1942 |
No.1 Flying Instructors School (1 FIS), Church Lawford, Warwickshire |
Oxford/Tutor tbc |
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29 Apr 1942 |
No.6 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (6 (P)AFU), Little Rissington, Gloucestershire |
Oxford |
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01 May 1943 |
Promoted to Flight Sergeant |
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26 Aug 1943 |
Attached to No.1517 Beam Approach Training (1517 BAT) Flight, Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire |
Oxford |
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21 Sep 1943 |
Returned to No.6 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (6 (P)AFU), Little Rissington, Gloucestershire |
Oxford tbc |
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23 Nov 1943 |
No.30 Operational Training Unit (30 OTU), Hixon, Staffordshire. Here he would have chosen his crew; Sergeant Jim Broadey, Air Bomber; Sergeant J Southwell, Navigator; Sergeant W Logan, Wireless Operator; and his two Air Gunners, Sergeants Alf Huberman (Mid-Upper Turret) and Geoff Brain (Rear Turret). His Flight Engineer would join the crew later. |
Wellington |
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22 Jan 1944 |
Awarded 1st Good Conduct Badge |
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07 Feb 1944 |
Discharged on appointment to a Commission |
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08 Feb 1944 |
Commissioned as Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) from the rank of Acting Warrant Officer. Promulgated in the London Gazette, 14 March 1944, page 1217) |
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16 Mar 1944 |
No.11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire; administrative Base for 1 Group heavy bomber conversions |
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17 Mar 1944 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit (1667 HCU), Sandtoft, Yorkshire |
Halifax |
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14 May 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School (1 LFS), Hemswell, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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19 May 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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27 Aug 1944 |
No.18 Operational Training Unit, Finningley |
Wellington |
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23 Jun 1947 |
Commissioned in the Reconstituted RAFVR as Fg Off (LG 05 Aug 47, p3671) |
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07 Jan 1952 |
Granted short service commission in the RAF as Fg Off (8 years on the active list and 4 years in the reserve) (seniority 25 Jul 50) (LG 01 Feb 52, p701) |
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02 Oct 1952 |
Short service commission relinquished on account of medical unfitness for air force service (LG 07 Oct 52, p5270) |
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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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27 May 1944 |
LM532 |
UL-A2 |
AACHEN |
2340 |
0415 |
4h35 |
P1 Plt Off D.W. McIvor RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Aachen East & Rothe-Erde marshalling yards. 11x 1000lb, 16x 500lb bombs. ‘Second Dickie’ |
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28 May 1944 |
LM122 |
UL-X2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Night cross country |
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29 May 1944 |
JB460 |
UL-V2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
3h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Cross country |
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31 May 1944 |
ME811 |
UL-S2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.A.J. Bain RCAF |
NOTES: |
High-level bombing and fighter affiliation. (Sgts Huberman and Brain, gunners from Ireland’s crew also flew on board probably as observers) |
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31 May 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
3h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Night cross country |
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02 Jun 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-R2 |
CALAIS |
2315 |
0235 |
3h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal Railway Battery. Bombed; arrived 50 miles ahead of the Main Force. The attacks against gun batteries in the Pas de Calais was part of a plan to deceive the Germans that the forthcoming invasion was to be in this area, and not Normandy. Most aircraft could not bomb due to cloud cover and brought their bombs back. Load: 11 x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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03 Jun 1944 |
ME810 |
UL-K2 |
WIMEREUX |
2335 |
0330 |
3h55 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal battery. Coastal railway gun battery The attack was part of the plan to deceive the Germans that the forthcoming invasion was to be in this area, and not Normandy. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 16x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Jun 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Air to sea firing |
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05 Jun 1944 |
LL799 |
UL-N2 |
ST MARTIN DE VARREVILLE & CRISBECQ |
2135 |
0225 |
4h50 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal battery on the eve of the D-Day invasion of France. The Squadron was split into two waves, the slightly earlier to attack the battery at Crisbeq. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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06 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
VIRE |
2220 |
0350 |
5h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Two aiming points: a road/rail bridge (Western AP) & Rail marshalling yards. This crew attacked the bridge with 18x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
FLERS |
0030 |
0550 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy airfield. Load: 28x 500lb bombs dropped at 2,700ft |
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11 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
A-S, bombing in the Lea Marsh Range, Gainsborough. |
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12 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
2250 |
0355 |
5h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Gelsenberg AG synthetic oil plant at Nordstern. Engine fire and return on 3 engines. Near miss with another Lancaster (Huberman). Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 16x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Jun 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-G2 |
LE HAVRE |
2035 |
0055 |
4h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Docks & E-Boat pens. Load: 11x 1000lb bombs. (2h40 day, 1h30 night) ‘One of the most successful attacks of the war’ (Huberman logbook) |
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16 Jun 1944 |
LM133 |
UL-H2 |
STERKRADE |
2315 |
0425 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Ruhr-Chemie AG synthetic oil plant at Holten. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 16x 500lb bombs. |
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22 Jun 1944 |
ND903 |
UL-R2 |
MIMOYECQUES |
1355 |
1755 |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V3 cannon construction site. Hit by flak in the target area, the starboard outer engine was hit and caught fire so was shut down. Hydraulics and mid-upper turret were also u/s. A successful crash landing was carried out at Elsham, but the aircraft was badly damaged and never flew again for 576, being sent to 103 Sqn after repairs. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
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23 Jun 1944 |
ME583 |
UL-T2 |
SAINTES |
2205 |
0535 |
7h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards & military stores. Load: 10x 1000lb & 2x 500lb bombs. |
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25 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
FLERS |
0145 |
0515 |
3h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ launch site. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
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29 Jun 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-G2 |
DOMLEGER |
1155 |
1500 |
3h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ storage & supply depot. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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30 Jun 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-V2 |
OISEMONT / NEUVILLE AU BOIS |
0550 |
0940 |
3h50 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ launch site. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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02 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
DOMLEGER |
1200 |
1600 |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ storage & supply depot. Load: 7x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
ORLEANS |
2200 |
0410 |
6h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
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05 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
DIJON |
2110 |
0555 |
8h45 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 8x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. Diverted to Coningsby. |
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06 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CONINGSBY TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1925 |
1950 |
0h25 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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07 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CAEN |
1925 |
2330 |
4h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy armour strongpoint on N outskirts of the city. Aircraft ‘shot up slightly’ (Huberman). Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x500lb bombs. |
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10 Jul 1944 |
LL799 |
UL-N2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h45 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
High level bombing, air to air firing |
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11 Jul 1944 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
1410 |
1625 |
2h15 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
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NOTES: |
"Y" (H2S) Navigation, cross country |
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12 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
REVIGNY |
2115 |
0620 |
9h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. The Deputy Master Bomber instructed aircraft to return to base (RTB) with bombs (‘Lysol’). Diverted to Sandtoft due to low cloud at base. Load: 7x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs, which were brought back. |
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13 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
SANDTOFT TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
2000 |
2015 |
0h15 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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14 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
REVIGNY |
2100 |
0540 |
8h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Diverted to Newmarket due to low cloud at base. Load: 7x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs, which were brought back under instruction from the Master Bomber. |
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15 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
NEWMARKET TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
nk |
nk |
0h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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18 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
SANNERVILLE |
0410 |
0725 |
3h15 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Area ‘H’ - Fortified positions occupied by Panzer regiments and flown in support of the British Second Army involved in Operation GOODWOOD. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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27 Jul 1944 |
LM651 |
UL-Z2 |
Training |
1520 |
1650 |
1h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Air to air firing, high level bombing |
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28 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
STUTTGART |
2115 |
0540 |
8h25 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Engineering workshops. Load: 1x 2000lb & 12x incendiary cluster bombs. |
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30 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CAHAGNES |
0635 |
1015 |
3h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy troop concentrations. Load: 20x 500lb bombs. Bombed at 1,500 ft. Diverted to Castle Camps due to haze and mist at base. |
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30 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CASTLE CAMPS TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1250 |
1335 |
0h45 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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31 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
LE HAVRE |
1800 |
2130 |
3h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Port area. Harbour installations, shipping & U-Boat pens. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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03 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
TROSSY ST MAXIMIN |
1135 |
1605 |
4h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ supply depot. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
PAUILLAC |
1340 |
2115 |
7h35 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage depot. Mustang, Mosquito & Spitfire escort. Load: 7x 1000lb, 2x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs. |
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05 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
BLAYE |
1445 |
2210 |
7h25 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage depot. Mosquito & Spitfire escort. Load: 4x 1000lb, 5x 1000lb & 3x500lb bombs. Low stratus and mist at Elsham necessitated a diversion to Worksop. |
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06 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
WORKSOP TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1210 |
1230 |
0h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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07 Aug 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
Air test |
1100 |
1130 |
0h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
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07 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
FONTENAYE LE MARMION |
2050 |
0055 |
4h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Concentration of enemy armour in battle area near Caen. Load: 7x 1000lb, 4x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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10 Aug 1944 |
UL-W2 |
PARIS (DUGNY) |
0900 |
1420 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
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NOTES: |
Target: Aviation fuel storage depot. Spitfire escort. Load: 9x 1000lb, 4x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
DOUAI |
1330 |
1740 |
4h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Spitfire escort. Load: 13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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12 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
BRUNSWICK |
2135 |
0245 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up industrial area. Huberman claims a combat and ‘shot one down’. Load: 10 x 2000lb bombs. |
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13 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
Air test |
nk |
nk |
1h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Test of the bomb doors. |
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29 Aug 1944 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
AIR TEST |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Sqn Ldr B.A. Templeman-Rooke |
NOTES: |
Target: Air test via Elsham, Blyton, Finningley and back to Elsham. In Templeman-Rooke’s logbook but not Ireland’s. P2: Fg Offs W R Ireland & V Moss |
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29 Aug 1944 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
Air Test; Elsham Wolds to Blyton to Finningley to Elsham Wolds |
1415 |
1515 |
1h00 |
P1 Sqn Ldr B.A. Templeman-Rooke |
NOTES: |
Air test and cross-country Plt Off W R Ireland and Flt Lt V Moss taken as P2s |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Details |
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Ron Ireland was born on 20 Dec 1920 in Poplar, London, son of William Jabez Ireland and Ethel Lydia Rose Farrell. He had three elder sisters, Ethel b.1911, Olive b.1912, and Rose ‘Billie’ b.1914.
Ron was educated at Fairfield Road Infant’s School, Bow from the age of four. At the age of 10 he was awarded a church choral scholarship at the Cooper’s Company College, also in Bow. He left school 12 months before matriculation. He applied to the Westminster Bank and while waiting for a response, worked for two years in a textile factory. In 1938 he finally started work at the Westminster Bank in Romford. At the outbreak of war, too young to sign-up, he joined the Local Volunteer Force.
In September 1942, Ron married Sissie Georgina Cooke in Cirencester and had five children, Gillian b.1944, William b.1944, Marylin b.1948, Jennifer b.1952, and William Steven b.1963.
It is believed that following his initial training Ron was involved in training himself as an instructor, but I have no details about that.
Following the war, Ron returned to the banking profession, but became unsettled and in 1952 re-joined the RAF. He resigned after just ten months and joined the Bank of West Africa in London, where he spent the next six years. In 1958 Ron took his family to Australia, disembarking in Adelaide, SA in August. He took up his old banking profession at the Adelaide Clearing House. Service Aspects Ron Ireland’s DFC was awarded on 576 Sqn on completion of his tour and Gazetted on 12 Dec 44, p5690 |
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PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Details |
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Probably shortly after enlisting – with sisters Olive, Ethel and BillieIreland Family |
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Front row 3rd right, at his billet during initial trainingMandy Farr |
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Basic training – Ron Ireland is front left - date and location unknownSteve Ireland |
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Airspeed Oxford - date and location unknownIreland Family |
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Possibly a commissioning photograph possibly Feb 44 - location unknownIreland Family |
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Lancaster ME800 UL-W2, the Ireland crew’s mount for most of their time on 576 Sqn(© Brian Caldersmith) |
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L-R Ron’s mother, daughter Marylin, his grandmother, and daughter Gillian circa 1949Ireland Family |
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