The Passing of a True War Hero
Warrant Officer Ron Wade of Bishops Cleeve, who joined the RAF in 1940 and flew Whitley bombers, has died aged 99. Ron's wartime story is remarkable and one of outstanding courage and determination.
After completing flying training Ron joined 58 Squadron, which was equipped with the Whitley, and was soon on operations over Germany and other occupied countries. The Whitley was slow and easy prey for enemy fighters and anti-aircraft batteries, many aircraft were shot down.
On 16 January 1941 Ron and his crew took off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, their target was Wilhelmshaven. At 9.15pm their aircraft was hit by flak, the port engine was set on fire, which quickly spread to other parts of the aircraft; soon it was out of control and the pilot gave the order to bale out.
As Ron was about to jump he noticed the navigator was in difficulty, his parachute harness was caught up and he could not free it. Despite the fire and the exploding ammunition, Ron turned back to assist the navigator, freeing his harness and then pushing him through the hatch before jumping himself, he was the last man out and was injured by exploding ammunition just as he left the aircraft.
Ron landed near Den Helder in Holland and was found the next morning covered in snow and with a severe head wound. Because of his injury the Dutch farmer who found him felt it was best to hand him over to the Germans for medical treatment.
For a week Ron was in a coma and suffered loss of memory; for 2 years Ron had blinding headaches and epilepsy. The injury also caused permanent damage to nerves, resulting in total loss of taste and smell throughout his life.
For 6 months Ron was officially listed as missing, presumed killed; his parents then discovered he was alive through a 'Lord Haw Haw' radio broadcast from Germany.
Ron was transported by ambulance to Cologne then by train to Dulag Luft, near Frankfurt, for interrogation, then by train to Stalag Luft 1 in Pomerania.
It was during this journey Ron nearly got himself shot; a German officer was inspecting the train, all the German guards sprang to attention with a ‘Heil Hitler’; Ron sprang to attention with a ‘Heil Churchill’. The German officer drew his revolver, glared at Ron and then replaced the gun in its holster.
Eighteen months later he was moved to Stalag Luft 3, of ‘Wooden Horse’ fame, where he helped to dig the first tunnels.
Ron was moved to Thoren in Poland, then to Hydakrog, Lithuania.
He escaped from the camp but was recaptured and beaten, then put into solitary confinement for two weeks in appalling conditions.
Along with many other Prisoners of War (PoWs), Ron was taken to Berlin by rail in filthy cattle trucks, left in the marshalling yards where they were locked in and left to the mercy of the heavy bombing by the RAF, a number of the PoWs were killed.
Ron was one of many PoWs brought together on a forced march and moved in different directions to avoid the approaching Allied troops. These forced marches were horrendous and were called ‘death marches’.
The march began in the bitter weather of January 1945, many died, suffering from dysentery and malnutrition. They were told by the guards that if they could not keep up with the column they would be shot by the SS troops following close behind. Ron was responsible for saving at least 25 PoWs from being shot, by organising rotas to carry the comrades who were faltering and by negotiating with the German guards. Tragically, many were killed by ‘friendly fire’ when RAF Typhoons attacked the column, believing it to be German troops.
Ron felt that the 14th April 1945 was the worst day of his life; it was raining heavily, he was soaked to the skin, starving hungry, ill with dysentery and trying to find anything to use as shelter. In his misery and despair he did not think he could go on – and, it was his birthday.
After almost 500 miles they were herded into a camp near Lubeck, where they were used as hostages. Ron was finally interned in a camp next to Belsen and witnessed unspeakable horrors.
On VE Day the PoWs were liberated by Allied troops; for Ron it had been four and a half years of captivity. On the ferry, crossing the Channel, many of the PoWs wept when they saw the white cliffs of Dover, they never thought they would ever see England again.
When he arrived home Ron’s parents hardly recognised him, he was so emaciated.
After recuperation Ron returned to the RAF to be told that because of his injuries he could no longer be passed fit for flying duties. Although he loved the RAF he did not want to stay in if he could not fly, so he opted to leave the Service.
Ron settled into civilian life, met Amy and in 1949 they married in 1949. Ron kept himself active in latter years, he wass a proud member of the Caterpillar Club (those who have used a parachute in an emergency), a member of the RAF ex-PoWs Association, a member of the Gloucestershire Aircrew Association and the Bishops Cleeve Senior Citizens Club at Denley Hall; for years Ron was a member of the Overbury Bowling Club.
He kept up his flying for many years by obtaining his Private Pilots Licence.
In latter years he has been able to continue flying each year through Project Propeller, a scheme to give WW2 veterans the chance to fly at no cost through the generosity of light aircraft owners.
After a serious fall in his home in July, Ron was taken to Cheltenham General Hospital, later transferred to Tewkesbury Community Hospital, where he died on Thursday, 18th August.
Ron is survived by wife, Amy, daughter Sheila, and son, Terry.