The Airmen's Stories - F/O I B D E Hay

Ian Bruce David Erroll Hay was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 4th June 1916. He attended Rugby School from 1930 to 1933. He obtained his 'A' License in 1934 and joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron in 1937, when he was at Trinity Hall reading Mechanical Sciences.

Commissioned in the RAFVR in September 1938, Hay was called up on 1st September 1939.

He was posted to 6 FTS Little Rissington for No. 15 Course, which ran from 9th October 1939 to 27th April 1940. Hay joined 611 Squadron at Digby on 4th May, direct from 6 FTS. He served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain.

Above: Hay married in September 1940.

On 13th December 1940 Hay was admitted to RAF Hospital Rauceby for a week of observation. He was posted from 611 to RAF Digby on 15th December as non-effective sick.

Hay was posted away in early 1941 and became Sector Controller at Digby, and later at Coltishall, Tangmere, Exeter and other stations. He was invalided out of the RAF in 1945, as a Wing Commander.

Hay returned to South Africa, where he became a director of Miles Aircraft, of Rand Mines 1950-52 and the Central Mining and Investment Corporation from 1952.

He died on 9th April 2005.