The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R S Mallett

Ronald Spencer Mallett was born on 5th October 1913, the son of Edward James Mallett and Eleanor Mallett (nee Curtin).

He married Nancy Doreen Holland in 1937 and joined 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force before the war as an Aircrafthand.

Called to full-time service on 24th August 1939, he remustered as an Airman u/t Air Gunner.

Mallett may have been one of a group of 601 airmen who began their gunnery training with the squadron in the latter part of 1939. In March 1940 they were sent to 5 BGS Jurby for No. 7B (Fighter) Air Gunner Course, which ran from 11th to 23rd March. This was a special course for partially-trained air gunners from fighter squadrons.

On returning to 601 they found the squadron had replaced its Blenheims with Hurricanes. In May 1940 they were posted to other Blenheim squadrons.

Mallett was serving with 29 Squadron at Digby by 27th June. He served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain and was still with it on 8th December 1940. After the introduction of airborne radar he retrained as a Radio Observer.

Commissioned in October 1943, Mallett was awarded the DFC (gazetted 9th June 1944) as a Flying Officer with 141 Squadron, operating in Mosquitos from West Raynham. He was credited with assisting in the destruction of two enemy aircraft at night.

Mallett was killed on 28th June 1944. Mosquito F11 DD787 was aloft on a Serrate patrol when it was shot down by a night-fighter over Holland, exploding in mid-air and throwing the pilot, F/Lt. PS Engelbach, clear. He was able to open his parachute and was made prisoner on landing.

Mallett is buried in Woensel General Cemetery, Eindhoven, Netherlands.

He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre.