Ronald Hamlyn

Ronald Hamlyn AFC, DFM (26 February 1914–April 1991) was a British flying ace with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

610 Squadron immediately afterwards and flew extensively during the Battle of Britain, destroying several German aircraft including five in one day, on 24 August, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Ronald Fairfax Hamlyn was born on 26 February 1914 in Harrogate, England, and was educated at Clifton House and Pocklington Grammar School.

He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1936, taking his initial flight training at No.

[3][7] Later in the month the squadron moved to Biggin Hill but remained heavily engaged in the aerial fighting over southeast England.

[3] The announcement was made on 13 September; the citation, published in The London Gazette, read: In August, 1940, whilst on an offensive patrol, Sergeant Hamlyn attacked and destroyed one Junkers 88, and one Messerschmitt 109.

A few hours later he engaged a Messerschmitt 109, chased it across the English Channel and finally shot it down over Calais where it crashed in flames.

Operating from North Weald, it carried out bomber escort duties as part of the RAF's Circus offensive.

[11] On one escort mission, involving Bristol Blenheim light bombers attacking Béthune on 4 July, Hamlyn shot down a Bf 109 near Gravelines.

[12] In October Hamlyn was rested from operational duties and posted to the RAF station at Valley where he was to form and command No.

9 Group and operated Westland Lysanders and the Supermarine Walrus seaplane over the Irish Sea.

It also used Spitfires and the two-seater Boulton Paul Defiant fighter as spotter aircraft for downed aircrew.

[2][14] By this time Hamlyn's substantive rank was flight lieutenant, having received this promotion in late September 1942.

The following year he was attached to the United States Ninth Air Force, working as its tactics liaison officer while it was based in Normandy.

[2][3] Remaining in the RAF in the postwar period, Hamyln was appointed station commander at Maidugari in West Africa in September 1945.

[2][17] In civilian life, he settled in the southwest of England and worked for the Save the Children Fund.

Personnel and some aircraft of No. 276 Squadron assembled at Harrowbeer, Devon. Hamlyn stands in the foreground