LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Ronald Henry HASKINS
Service No: 415789
Born: Perth WA, 5 August 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 57 Squadron (RAF), RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 57 Squadron Lancaster aircraft JA896), Scampton, 16 August 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Scampton (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, Lincolnshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Henry and Olive Haskins, of Maylands, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Perth WA
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Lancaster JA896 took off from RAF Scampton at 2029 hours on the night of 15/16th August 1943, detailed to bomb Milan. On returning to base after the mission, the aircraft made a heavy landing and attempted a take off for a further circuit, on three engines the port outer being feathered. JA896 turned to port through 180 degrees and crashed at 0447 hours on 16th August 1943. Four of the crew were killed and three were injured. Flight Sergeant Haskins died of his injuries later that day.
The seven crew members of JA896 were:
Pilot Officer Bladen (136388) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) Injured
Sergeant Burgess (1813299) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) Injured
Flight Sergeant Ronald Henry Haskins (415789) (Rear Gunner) Fatally Injured
Sergeant Alan George Luxford (1622053) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer Arthur Joseph Organ (134688) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Derrick John Rose (575202) (RAF) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer Jack Smithers (412853) (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, 166/17/257