RONALD MOXON LEEMING
RONNIE
Extra information courtesy of Brian Leeming
Born: 13th September 1921, Kilburn, London.
Died: 5th February 1945; age: 24; Killed in aircraft accident during a violent thunder storm whilst training over the Mull of Kintyre.
Residence: 171, Clapgate Lane, Ipswich.
Employed: Electric Supply & Transport – Ipswich Borough Council.
R.A.F.V.R Enlistment Details: Location: R.A.F. Uxbridge, Hillingdon, London; Date: 26th March 1941 as a Pilot Under Training.
Service:
Passed examinations & promoted to Leading Aircraftman – 3rd October 1941.
13th October 1941 – Left R.A.F Wilmslow, Cheshire for R.A.F. Greenock, Renfrewshire.
17th October 1941 – Departed on the tide at 11.45pm, on board S.S. ‘Louis Pasteur’ E Deck, 6 Berth.
25th October 1941 – Docked at 3pm, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
26th October 1941 – Posted to R.A.F. Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, a training base.
17th December 1941 – Posted to Darr Aero Tech, Albany, Georgia, a primary training school.
27th January 1942 – Ronnie had a collision with a tree on landing, he escaped with only a shaking up. The aircraft an Stearman P 17 was a write off.
21st February 1942 – Transferred to Pilot School, at Macon, Georgia.
30th April 1942 – Left Macon for Dothan, Alabama, for advanced flying training.
3rd July 1942 – Graduated at Dothan and received wings.
20th July 1942 – returned to UK.
31st December 1942 – Promoted to Sergeant.
21st July 1942 – 14th February 1943 – General trainings on twins.
13th April 1943 – 27th November 1944 – Ferry crew, Filton, Bristol.
26th June 1943 – Promoted to Pilot Officer.
26th December 1943 – Promoted to Flying Officer.
28th November 1944 – posted to 105 Operational Training Unit at R.A.F. Bramcote, Warwickshire.
1st January 1945 – New Year’s Honours List and published in the London Gazette – Commended for valuable service in the air.
5th February 1945 – Posted as missing – believed killed in accident to aircraft.
Ronnie was selected just before his crash to fly for B.O.A.C.
“Most of his service was served with Transport Command flying Beaufighters to North Africa and probably Italy for which he received the King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. He was selected just before his crash to fly for BOAC and it was whilst on his training course that his Wellington broke up in a violent thunder storm over the Mull of Kintyre.”
Rank: Flying Officer; Service Number: 169059.
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 267.
Englefield Green,
Surrey.
Father: Arthur Moxon Leeming, born 1880, Marylebone, Middlesex.
Mother: Rosa Leeming (nee Turner), born 1880, Pimlico, Middlesex.
Ronnie was Arthur & Rosa’s youngest child. They moved to Ipswich in the 1930’s, and lived at 103, Cromer Road, Ipswich.
On the 27th November 1943, Ipswich, Ronald married Daphne Barbara Jean Pledger, born March 1921, Ipswich.
5th February 1945
Aircraft: Wellington Mk; Serial Number: X-LP351. Whilst on a training course the Wellington broke up in a violent thunder storm over the Mull of Kintyre.
CREW:
John Benjamin Field; Sergeant/Navigator; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.
Francis Edward Morgan; Flight Sergeant/Wireless Operator; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.
Leslie Thomas Magson Dowding; Flight Sergeant; R.A.F.V.R.
John Field’s body was recovered from the sea, and laid to rest at Botley Cemetery, Oxfordshire.
Ronnie is remembered on the war memorial at the Town Hall, Ipswich.
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