Flying Sergeant Ronald Frederick Waldon
Royal Australian Air Force - WWII
Service Number: 400894
Royal Australian Air Force, RAF Bomber Command Squadron 460 Sqdn RAF
Born: 16 September 1918 in Beechworth, Vic, Australia
Date of death: 3 June 1942, age 21
Status: KIA
Awards:
- 1939-45 Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
Buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Row B. Grave 30.
“His duty nobly done”
Awards: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal
BIOGRAPHY
Ronald Frederick Waldon was the son of Albert David “Bert” Waldon and Rosina Sydney McMillan, of Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. Ronald was born in Beechworth, Vic, Australia and was occupied as a state school teacher before the war.
Schools:
1929-1933 Beechworth H.E.S. from which he obtained an “Intermediate Certificate”
Subjects were: English, Drawing, History, Algebra, Geology, Science,
1934-1937 University High School
1939- Teachers College from which he obtained the “Trained Primary Teachers’ Certificate”
He loved playing tennis, swimming and cricket.
In 1940 he served with the 59th Battalion – RAAF.
He enlisted on November 10, 1940, age 22 and single.
His medical was on April 23, 1940 in N°1 Recruiting Centre in Melbourne.
Height: 5 feet 6 inch
Weight: 123 lbs
Complexion: dark
Eyes: brown
Hair: dark
Ronald was first attached to the RCAF on November 10, 1940 and from September 22, 1941 attached to the RAF.
Embarked Sydney for Canada on February 22, 1941.
Embarked Canada for UK on September 22, 1941.
Disembarked in the UK on October 1, 1941.
On June 2nd 1942 Ronald and the crew of Wellington IV - Z1394 – UV Q took off from Breighton Air Base, UK, at 23.26 for a mission to Essen, Germany. After the target was bombed they were flying at low altitude (200-300ft) over the Dutch coast. Suddenly the aircraft crashed without warning into the sea and sank immediately before the coast of Wemeldinge, Oosterschelde, (The Netherlands) in the night of June 3rd.
According to the testimony of Sgt Butterworth, F/O Keene was still alive, said he was not badly wounded and they started swimming together but were separated. Also Sgt Waldon was still alive and swimming to the shore.
But on June 3rd the bodies of Keene and Waldon washed ashore, cause of death: drowning. They were not identified immediately though.
Later they also found Sgt Kendall’s body, he was killed in the crash.
Waldon, Keene and Kendall are buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery.
Sgt Butterworth was picked up by a German boat and ended the war as a POW.
June 18, 1942 a letter was sent to Ronalds father informing him that his son was missing.
A telegram was sent to his father on January 8, 1943 stating the status of his son changed, for official purposes, from “missing” to presumed death on June 3, 1942.
Waldons cousin Air Gunner Sergeant Charles Noel Reynolds - Service N° 400647 RAAF
died 10/04/1942 age 22 also on a raid on Essen, Germany.
Halifax II R9484 MP-G, crew of 7, all killed and buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany Coll. Grave. 19. A. 8-11.
Flying Officer John Walter Keene is buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery Row B. Grave 31.
Sergeant William Kendall is buried in Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery Row B. Grave 28.
The crew of Wellington Z 1394 UV-Q
F/O J. W. Keene RAAF 402742 KIA
Sgt R. F. Waldon RAAF 400894 KIA
Sgt W. Kendall RAFVR 1309012 KIA
Sgt D. G. Butterworth RAAF 404471 POW
Sgt R. J. Biglands RAAF 407282 MIA
MILITARY RECORDS
