LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Ronald Howard BOYD
Service No: 416041
Born: Knightsbridge SA, 11 November 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 March 1941
Unit: No. 103 Squadron (RAF), RAF Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 103 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ND905), France, 4 May 1944, Aged 32 Years
Buried: Villers-le-Chateau Churchyard, Marne, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edward James Boyd and Ada Louisa Boyd; husband of Esma Madge Boyd, of Hackney, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 119, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Lancaster ND905 took off from RAF Elsham Wolds at 2158 hours on the night of 3 May 1944, detailed to bomb military camp installations at Mailly-Le-Camp, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Villers-le-Chateau, France. All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Villers-le-Chateau Churchyard.
The crew members of ND905 were:
Warrant Officer Ronald Howard Boyd (416041) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant George Francis Casey (R/204074) (RCAF) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Eric John Dane (144340) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Dennis Allen Hadden (1430823) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Jack Raymond Rankin (R/208112) (RCAF) (Rear Gunner)
Warrant Officer John Coates Smith (645575) (RAF) (Wireless Operator Air)
Squadron Leader Harold Swanston (70659) (RAF) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/6/521
Bibliography:
Charlwood, D.E.C. (Donald Ernest Cameron) (408794) No Moon Tonight (Angus and Robertson 1956), Penguin Ringwood VIC, 3134, 1991