Ronald David Whamond Jamieson

To be completed

Find A Grave record

Unit: No. 625 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: ED317

Code: CF-W

Base: Kelstern, Lincolnshire.

Location: Lagensalza, Germany.

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Ronald David Whamond Jamieson 1551751 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Eric Boynton Tones 1697423 R.A.F.V.R. Age 19. Killed

Nav: F/O. Bartlett Leadbetter Rogers J/22911 R.C.A.F. Age 23. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Inglis Scott 1560052 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21.Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Eric Gordon Waller 1320142 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Frederick Etheridge 1801712 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Richard Honey 1608258 R.A.F.V.R. Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 18.36 hrs from RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire to attack the heart of Germany, Berlin. The Bomber force amounted to
811 aircraft (577 Lancaster's, 216 Halifax's and 18 Mosquitoes) - not a night to remember for Bomber Command with over 70
aircraft lost!
This operation has become known as the "night of the strong winds" as a very strong wind took the bomber
stream further south at every stage of the outbound flight. The bombers became very scattered in particular on the homeward
bound stages, where the radar controlled flak batteries were able to score many successes.

Berlin reported that 14 Aircraft
were shot down by night fighters over the target area. Bombing was very scattered with over 100 towns and villages around
Berlin being bombed and very little commercial damage done in Berlin itself. Civilians were hardest hit again with 20,000
made homeless and 150 people on the ground killed (A further 30 people killed in other areas bombed by the scattered force.)

This was the last major bombing raid on Berlin of the war although it was of course attacked by many small raids using
Mosquitoes. No major industrial targets were hit although some damage was done to 5 military establishments - including the
Waffen-S.S. depot in Lichterfield.
As explained previously over 70 aircraft were lost on this raid but the true horror being
220 aircrew killed and a further 133 made P.O.W's.
Lancaster ED317 was engaged over Lagensalza, Germany by Oblt. Günther
Rogge (1) of 2./NJG3 at 23.30 hrs and shot down.

(1) Oblt. Günther Rogge this was his 4th confirmed victory during the war.
He eventually claimed a further 2, making him an ace - Günther survived the war but we have no details on his history since
then.

Fl/Sgt. Ronald Jamieson

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Ronald David Whamond Jamieson. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective grave 6.C.15-19

Further information:
Born in Ceylon, son of Ronald Barrie and Barbara Low (Babs - nee Whamond) Jamieson.
His father was a tea planter but died quite young in 1928. Babs then returned to Scotland and brought a Board and room
property in Kirriemuir, Scotland. She sent her two boys, Ronald and John to boarding school from which they then both
joined the R.A.F.
Sadly his older brother John, known as Barrie, also a pilot, was killed on the 19th August 1941.
Flying with 51 Squadron, shot down in a Whitley Z6811 MH-D, all the crew losing their lives.

Sgt. Eric Boynton Tones. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective grave 6.C.15-19
Son of Christopher Hoggett Tones and Monica Tones, of Kildale, Yorkshire.

F/O. Bartlett Leadbetter Rogers. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 6.C.14.

Sgt. James Inglis Scott. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective grave 6.C.15-19
Son of James Inglis Scott and Jessie Duncan Scott, of Dundee.

Sgt. Eric Gordon Waller. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective grave 6.C.15-19
Son of Bert Joseph and Una Maude Mary Waller, of Canterbury.

Sgt. James Frederick Etheridge. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective grave 6.C.15-19
Son of Frederick Charles and Nellie Eliza Etheridge, of Hastings, Sussex.

Sgt. John Richard Honey. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 6.C.13.
Son of John and Mable Honey, stepson of Edwin Payne of Ivybridge, Devon

To be completed