The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R G Marland

Rainford Gent Marland, of Preston, Lancashire was born in mid-1916, the son of Thomas Rainford Marland (1886-1966) and Sarah Ann Marland (nee Atkinson 1888-1976).

He attended Balshaw Grammar School in Leyland. He went on to Stand Grammar School in Whitefield.

After completing an apprenticeship with Thomas Blackburn & Sons, Preston, he qualified as an architectural draughtsman.

Marland joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939 he completed his training and joined 222 Squadron at Hornchurch on 1st September 1940.

He claimed a Me109 destroyed on the 7th, a Ju88 on the 11th, a Me109 damaged on the 14th, two probable Me109s on the 30th and another probable on 25th October.

He shared a Ju88 on 17th February 1941 and shared another on 8th March. Marland was commissioned in March 1941. He claimed a Do17 destroyed on 7th April, a Ju88 damaged on the 21st, a Me109 destroyed and two others damaged on 9th July and a Me109 destroyed on 27th September. He was then serving with 603 Squadron.

Marland was posted to 229 Squadron in the Middle East in October 1941. He probably destroyed a Ju88 on 23rd November.

He was killed in an air accident on 16th December 1941. He had completed a slow roll in Hurricane Z5617 when the engine cut out and the aircraft spun into the ground.

He is buried in Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo.