LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Ronald Martin HAMILTON
Service No: 404076
Born: Brisbane QLD, 8 February 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 May 1940
Unit: No. 615 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 615 Squadron Hurricane aircraft BD831), off the Belgian Coast, 18 September 1941, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William James Hamilton and Ellen Mary Hamilton, of Corinda, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 62, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 18 September 1941, Hurricane BD831 flown by Pilot Officer Hamilton was escorting bomber aircraft which were attacking shipping off Ostend, Belgium. After an attack by enemy aircraft, the engine of Hamilton’s aircraft stopped, and he made a forced landing on the sea. The Pilot of another aircraft circled but saw no trace of Hamilton and was forced to abandon the search due to the presence of enemy aircraft. Pilot Officer Hamilton lost his life at sea and has no known grave.
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, 163/35/129