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207882W/O John Raymond Hill
Royal Air Force 431 Sqd.
from:Aldenham, Herts
John Raymond Hill, known always as Ray, joined up at the start of the War even though he was Reserved Occupation as a farmer. He tried to join the Royal Navy but was rejected due to his occupation. The R.A.F. did not seem to mind as much.After Initial training he chose aircrew and trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He was posted to the R.C.A.F. in 431 Iroquois Sqdn he was gathered together by Pilot Ben Jackson to form a Wellington crew along with Canadians Jack Begg, Les Cragg and George Beattie. They went on to fly 24 Operations on "Wimpeys" and a further 3 in Halifax bombers. Targets were mainly mine laying in the early days and then the Rhur. The Pilot, Ban Jackson, was awarded a well deserved D.F.C. for his completion of the tour and then both he and my father, Ray Hill, went on to serve at O.T.U's for the duration of the war.
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