LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Ronald Harold SMALL
Service No: 412727
Born: Epping NSW, 3 September 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941
Unit: No. 229 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Tangmere
Died: Air Operations: (No. 229 Squadron Spitfire aircraft NA817), France, 23 June 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: St Samson Churchyard, Calvados, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harold Campbell Small and Ettie Small, of Epping, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Epping NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Epping War Memorial, Hurstville NSW
Remembered: Epping Presbyterian Church Memorial Organ, Epping NSW
Remembered: Boronia Park Epping Cenotaph, Epping NSW
At 1550 hours on 23 June 1944 Spitfire NA817 took off from Tangmere as part of a formation of eight aircraft from the Squadron detailed to carry out a beachhead patrol over Normandy, France. On arrival at the beachhead, the formation divided into two sections of four, with Blue Section led by Flight Lieutenant Small patrolling the east flank.
Pilot Officer Clark in Blue Section later reported: “at approximately 1645 hours the Controller reported enemy aircraft to our east and, on going to investigate, 6 FW190s were sighted at 2 o’clock at our own altitude of 4000 feet diving. We turned to engage them and while turning 3 FW190s attacked us from the opposite direction. As we broke into them Flying Officer Armstrong Small’s No. 2 received damage to the starboard wing and was forced to break away. Also Flight Lieutenant Hayes my No. 2 received damage to his starboard wing and spun off, returning to the fight almost immediately.
In the dog fight which ensued, I caught only occasional glimpses of Small in one of which I believe he was behind a FW190 which received strikes on the cockpit and subsequently crashed. I then got behind a FW190 which broke and I chased him for 5 minutes. After breaking off the engagement, I returned to the patrol area and made several attempts to contact Flight Lieutenant Small on the radio, all of which were unsuccessful I remained in the patrol area for a few minutes, but seeing no other aircraft about obtained permission from the Flight Controller to return to base.”
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 1667/38/578
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line