Dinnington - Part 2
Roland William Hall - 1126572
RAF Thunderbolt
Roland William Hall was the son of William Henry Hall and Bertha Helen (nee Davy), his birth being registered in Worksop late in 1920. He was the first child of the couple, a second son was born three years later, and the family latterly lived at the Colliery Institute, Dinnington. After leaving school he became a school teacher.
Roland enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1126572, and he became a Warrant Officer (Pilot). He did his training in the United States at the Southern Aviation School, Camden, South Carolina where he was in Class SE 42-B. W/O Roland William Hall was killed on 19 July 1945 when his Republic Thunderbolt I aircraft, serial number H175, of 9FU (Ferry Unit) crashed at RAF Habbaniya, he was pronounced dead in arrival at hospital. He was 24 years old and is buried in Habbaniya War Cemetery in Iraq,
40 miles west of Baghdad.
Note
The Thunderbolt aircraft H175 was built in the US, with an initial serial number was 42-26230, and was the
early "Razor back", not bubble canopy.
Roland enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1126572, and he became a Warrant Officer (Pilot). He did his training in the United States at the Southern Aviation School, Camden, South Carolina where he was in Class SE 42-B. W/O Roland William Hall was killed on 19 July 1945 when his Republic Thunderbolt I aircraft, serial number H175, of 9FU (Ferry Unit) crashed at RAF Habbaniya, he was pronounced dead in arrival at hospital. He was 24 years old and is buried in Habbaniya War Cemetery in Iraq,
40 miles west of Baghdad.
Note
The Thunderbolt aircraft H175 was built in the US, with an initial serial number was 42-26230, and was the
early "Razor back", not bubble canopy.
Harold Hayes - 572871
Harold Hayes was born in Dinnington on 6 May 1921, fourth and youngest child of coal miner William Hayes and his wife of 18 years Gertrude (nee Biggin). Harold’s siblings were substantially older than him, on his birth their ages were 17, 13 and 10 years old. The family lived at 9 Lorden’s Hill, Dinnington. Harold was married in Lincoln in early 1944 and lived at 62 Baggeholme Road, Lincoln. Harold’s wife was expecting when he died and a daughter was born later in 1945.
After leaving school he joined the Royal Air Force, service number 572871, he entered RAF Halton in the 37th entry for apprentices in January 1938 and graduated in March 1940. After training as a Flight Engineer he was posted to 49 Squadron of Bomber Command in July 1943. Flight Sergeant Hayes flew with the squadron through the Battle of the Ruhr and on several trips to Berlin. 49 Squadron were based at Fiskerton near Lincoln and flew the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber. After completing his ‘tour’ on operations in January 1944 he was ‘rested’. In February 1945 he was with 1660 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) at Swinderby in Lincolnshire which trained crews on four engined heavies. On the 25 February 1945 he was part of the crew of Lancaster ME490, the Lancaster was brand new, only being delivered to the squadron on the 9 February. At 15:05 the aircraft took off on a training flight to demonstrate three-engined landing overshoots. Only a mere ten minutes had elapsed before the Lancaster crashed from 300 feet, its port outer feathered. The aircraft entered the funnels and carried out overshoot at 2-300 feet, but the aircraft swung to the left, off course, gradually turning to the left and finally dropping the left wing and crashing. The airspeed was allowed to drop below the 3 engine safety speed, which caused the left wing to fall, and consequently the aircraft became out of control. From witness reports, it was evident that the pilot had stalled while trying to lift a wing at too low an air speed. An inquiry into the accident stated that : “The responsibility for the crash rests with one or both Pilots.” Six of the seven man crew were killed, only the rear-gunner surviving. Harold Hayes was 23 years old when he died and is buried in Dinnington Church Cemetery.
After leaving school he joined the Royal Air Force, service number 572871, he entered RAF Halton in the 37th entry for apprentices in January 1938 and graduated in March 1940. After training as a Flight Engineer he was posted to 49 Squadron of Bomber Command in July 1943. Flight Sergeant Hayes flew with the squadron through the Battle of the Ruhr and on several trips to Berlin. 49 Squadron were based at Fiskerton near Lincoln and flew the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber. After completing his ‘tour’ on operations in January 1944 he was ‘rested’. In February 1945 he was with 1660 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) at Swinderby in Lincolnshire which trained crews on four engined heavies. On the 25 February 1945 he was part of the crew of Lancaster ME490, the Lancaster was brand new, only being delivered to the squadron on the 9 February. At 15:05 the aircraft took off on a training flight to demonstrate three-engined landing overshoots. Only a mere ten minutes had elapsed before the Lancaster crashed from 300 feet, its port outer feathered. The aircraft entered the funnels and carried out overshoot at 2-300 feet, but the aircraft swung to the left, off course, gradually turning to the left and finally dropping the left wing and crashing. The airspeed was allowed to drop below the 3 engine safety speed, which caused the left wing to fall, and consequently the aircraft became out of control. From witness reports, it was evident that the pilot had stalled while trying to lift a wing at too low an air speed. An inquiry into the accident stated that : “The responsibility for the crash rests with one or both Pilots.” Six of the seven man crew were killed, only the rear-gunner surviving. Harold Hayes was 23 years old when he died and is buried in Dinnington Church Cemetery.
Note
The other crew member of ME490 were: F/O James Ernest Gibberd DFC - RAAF 415639, Instructor 1st Pilot - aged 27 - killed S/L John Bertram Sayers AFC MID – 131547, Pupil Pilot - aged 25 - killed F/S Derrick William Dunthorp – 1602131, Navigator - aged 22 - killed W/O Harold Bowen Jones – 1324221, Air Bomber – aged 29 - killed W/O Harold Whitney Bennett – 1025303, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – aged 29 - killed F/S T V W Rigby, rear gunner – injured |
F/O Gibberd RAAF, who had gained his award while flying with 61 Squadron had accumulated 262 hours on type. S/L Sayers gained his AFC with 16 OTU, had joined
the volunteer reserve before the war, had logged 1,224 hours solo but had no prior experience on Lancasters. It appear that Hayes had joined Sayers crew who
were working to join an new squadron and Hayes was to undertake a new ‘tour’.
the volunteer reserve before the war, had logged 1,224 hours solo but had no prior experience on Lancasters. It appear that Hayes had joined Sayers crew who
were working to join an new squadron and Hayes was to undertake a new ‘tour’.
Robert Denver Haynes - 4748067
Robert Denver Haynes was born in Gloucestershire on 29 September 1920, son of Albert and Adelaide Haynes, who later lived at 71 Church Lane, Dinnington.
Robert enlisted in the Army, service number 4748067, and became a Serjeant in The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. The battalion landed in
Normandy on 9 June 1944, their first battle was at the village of Audrieu and then they were involved in Operation Martlett, the battle for Fontenay-Le-Pesnel at the end of June. The war diary of 146th Infantry Brigade details the actions of the Hallamshires as follows:
29 June – 15:00 Hallams stalked and killed enemy sniper at (Map reference) 867653. Snipers continued to be active on this front and enemy locality in orchards.
30 June - 18:00 Hallams reported that whenever our artillery opens up, the enemy replies with fire on our forward troops to give the impression that our own shells are
falling short.
1 July - 01:05 Hallams reported a concentration of tanks and called for artillery fire.
The tanks and infantry were seen by a patrol from the Carrier Platoon concentrated at Barbee Fme at 00:50. All patrols were withdrawn and heavy concentration of field and medium artillery were put down on these targets. No further activity was reported from these areas. On the left of the battalion the enemy launched attacks all day but 49 Div held all its positions. Heavy mortar fire was directed at the battalion's positions during the night. During the day the casualties were two wounded and two killed, including Sgt Haynes. He was 24 years old and now lies in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux in Calvados, France. The inscription on his grave is: 'A smiling face, A heart of gold, One of the best the world could know’.
Robert enlisted in the Army, service number 4748067, and became a Serjeant in The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. The battalion landed in
Normandy on 9 June 1944, their first battle was at the village of Audrieu and then they were involved in Operation Martlett, the battle for Fontenay-Le-Pesnel at the end of June. The war diary of 146th Infantry Brigade details the actions of the Hallamshires as follows:
29 June – 15:00 Hallams stalked and killed enemy sniper at (Map reference) 867653. Snipers continued to be active on this front and enemy locality in orchards.
30 June - 18:00 Hallams reported that whenever our artillery opens up, the enemy replies with fire on our forward troops to give the impression that our own shells are
falling short.
1 July - 01:05 Hallams reported a concentration of tanks and called for artillery fire.
The tanks and infantry were seen by a patrol from the Carrier Platoon concentrated at Barbee Fme at 00:50. All patrols were withdrawn and heavy concentration of field and medium artillery were put down on these targets. No further activity was reported from these areas. On the left of the battalion the enemy launched attacks all day but 49 Div held all its positions. Heavy mortar fire was directed at the battalion's positions during the night. During the day the casualties were two wounded and two killed, including Sgt Haynes. He was 24 years old and now lies in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux in Calvados, France. The inscription on his grave is: 'A smiling face, A heart of gold, One of the best the world could know’.