The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. T W R Healy

Terence William Richard Healy, from Edgware, Middlesex was born on 1st May 1920, the son of Lt. Colonel Christopher Francis Healy (1887-1970) and Mabelle Claire Marguerite Healy (nee Kitts 1888-1995).

His father served in Gallipoli and France with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and ended WW1 with a MC, Croix de Guerre (Belge) and a Mention in Dispatches.

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TWR Healy joined the RAFVR in July 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He was called up on 1st September 1939. He completed his flying training at 18 EFTS and 5 FTS Sealand.

Back row: F/O HC Baker, F/O DA Adams, P/O MF Briggs, Sgt. EV Darling, F/O JN McKenzie,

F/O ADJ Lovell (in cockpit)

 Front row: P/O DE Mileham, F/Lt. EN Ryder, Sgt. RA Angus, S/Ldr. DO Finlay, Sgt. TWR Healy,

Sgt. JS Gilders, P/O EP Wells, Sgt. RC Ford.

On 14th August 1940, at Sealand, Healy was in formation with Sgt. SA Goodwin when their Miles Masters collided. Healy was able to land his aircraft and Goodwin baled out unhurt.

Healy then converted to Spitfires at 7 OTU Hawarden and was posted to 611 Squadron at Tern Hill on 29th September. He moved to 41 Squadron at Hornchurch on 12th October and remained with 41 till 19th May 1941 when he joined 141 Squadron.

Above: Healy (left) with P/O R McGugan (Air Gunner) with their Defiant (N3503 'RA-F') of 410 (F) Squadron RCAF.

Above image courtesy of the S/Ldr. Robert McGugan Archive via Joel Diggle.

Commissioned in June 1941 he was killed with 266 Squadron on 2nd March 1944. His Typhoon IB MN259 crashed near Rambouillet after hitting a tree during a Rodeo in the Le Havre area.

He was 23 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.