• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

December 5th, 1920 (Ferryhill/Co Durham, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

November 25th, 2006 (Leeholme/Co Durham, United Kingdom)

Service number:

1045069

Nationality:

British

Ronald Batson, born in Ferryhill, Co Durham on 5 December 1920, worked as a grocer’s assistant before enlisting in the RAF in March 1941.

After qualifying as an air gunner, he joined 106 Squadron Conversion Flight in September 1942. Batson amassed 31 operations by March 1943.

During the Dams Raid, Batson manned the front turret of AJ-T. Spotting a goods train on the return flight, he requested to attack, unaware it was an armored flak train. A shell from the train punctured a front tyre, causing landing issues at Scampton.

Batson was recommended for a DFM in February 1944. By July, he had completed over 60 sorties and was promoted to Warrant Officer before being assigned to a training unit for the rest of the war.

His younger brother, Douglas, also joined the RAF but tragically died when a USAAF B24 Liberator crashed into a cafe in Freckleton, Lancashire on 23 August 1944. He is buried in Duncombe Cemetery, Ferryhill.

After the war, Batson briefly returned to Durham before moving to Fleetwood, Lancashire. He was married twice and later settled in Leeholme, Co Durham, with his second wife, Muriel.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Tempory Flight Sergeant

Unit:

No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 23rd, 1944

Awarded for:

Operation Chastise

“Sorties 37. Flying Hours 264.30. Air Gunner.

Flight Sergeant Batson has completed 37 operational sorties as Mid-upper gunner and has been operating continuously since October 1942. He has flown against many of the most heavily defended targets in Germany including Berlin, the Ruhr, Hamburg and Cologne and took part in the low-level attack on the Sorpe Dam. His enthusiasm and fighting spirit have invariably been of the highest order and he has proved his ability to face the heaviest opposition with complete calm and resolution. It is considered that the exemplary manner in which this NCO has executed his duties with the result that his captain has been able to place complete confidence in him merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.”
12 February 1944
Remarks by Station Commander – “This air gunner has been engaged in operational flying for well over a year. His enthusiasm for operations has never flagged and he has set a fine example to all other air gunners. Strongly recommended.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: specialforcesroh.com
• - Dambusters

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Sorpe Dam Langscheid

Langscheid - Nordrhein-Westfalen

RAF Scampton

Lincoln - Lincolnshire

Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)