RONALD EDWARD CHARLES SPALL

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Image courtesy of David.

Born: 1924, Ipswich.

Died: 3rd March 1945; age: 19; killed in an aircraft crash in the North Sea near the Island of Sylt.

Residence: 28, Turin Street, Ipswich.

Rank: Flight Sergeant/Navigator; Service Number: 1629954.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 297 Squadron, Transport Command.

Memorial Reference:

Panel 273.

Runnymede Memorial,

Englefield Green,

Surrey.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Edward John & Alice Elizabeth Spall, of Ipswich.

Father: Edward John Spall, born February 1883, Trimley St. Mary, Suffolk. A Checker – London North Eastern Railway.

Mother: Alice Elizabeth Spall (nee Carter), born January 1892, Lavenham, Suffolk.

Sister: Barbara Gladys Spall, born March 1919, Ipswich.

Aircraft: Handley Page Halifax V. Serial number: LL413. Based at R.A.F. Earls Colne, Essex. It is presumed that the aircraft crashed into the North Sea close to the North Frisian Islands. All crew members were killed. John Kitchen and Aubrey Richardson-Jones were buried at Westerland, on the Island of Sylt. The bodies were exhumed, identified and reburied on the 1st July 1947 at Kiel War Cemetery, Germany. The bodies of Ronald Spall, Peter Escott, Douglas Clark and Stuart Wentworth were never recovered and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

Crew:

Peter John Ford Escott; Sergeant; age 19; R.A.F.V.R.

Douglas Ward Clark; Flight Sergeant; age 20; R.A.F.V.R.

Stuart William Wentworth; Flight Sergeant; age 24; R.A.F.

John Elstob Kitchen; Sergeant/Flight Engineer; age 24; R.A.F.V.R.

Aubrey Frank Richardson-Jones; Warrent Officer/Pilot; age 25; R.A.F.

Ronald is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Nicholas Church, Ipswich.

Family information from David: Ronald was a navigator and was lost during a mission to Norway when the plane he was in came down in the sea, in what was believed to be the area close to the Frisian islands.