Anthony Ross Henzell Hayter (20 May 1920 – 6 April 1944) was a Royal Air Force Vickers Wellington bomber pilot who was taken prisoner during the Second World War.

[4] By the outbreak of war[clarification needed] in September 1939, he was with the Advanced Training School at RAF Hullavington about to convert to Bristol Blenheim light bombers.

The squadrons of Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Battle light bombers had been almost wiped out in ten days, the majority of their airmen killed in action.

As the airfield was attacked, he took cover in a ditch, and once the officer had delivered his package, he brought him back to England,[11][clarification needed] a feat earning him a mention in dispatches.

About 4 weeks later, while awaiting permission to take off, his Bristol Blenheim was struck by a Vickers Wellington, which crippled his observer and destroyed his aircraft.

[17][18] On 23 April 1942 at 2045 hours Hayter took off from RAF Luqa flying Vickers Wellington Mark Ic (serial number "BB483", squadron code "Q-Queen") on a mission to bomb enemy positions at Comiso, Sicily.

Two of the squadron's aircraft were shot down in the target area and with the exception of Hayter all of the crews died, they are buried at Catania War Cemetery on Sicily.

[20][21] Hut 120 was central to the escape committee in Stalag Luft III, it was inhabited by Alex Cassie, Tim Walenn, Gordon Brettell, Des Plunkett and Tony Hayter, three forgers and two mapmakers.

Hayter's plan was to travel by train and head for Mulhouse on the French border, he wore a dark civilian suit and spoke good German.

[25][26] Ending up in Strasbourg police headquarters he was taken away by car heading for Sagan only to be shot beside the road 1 mile from Natzweiler concentration camp and cremated there.

[44] Hayter was mentioned in despatches twice; the first was on 31 December 1940, for his services in connection with the Battle of France[45] while the second was for his conspicuous gallantry as a prisoner of war (none of the other relevant decorations then available could be awarded posthumously).