- Contributed byÌý
- ´óÏó´«Ã½ Open Day
- People in story:Ìý
- John Ronald Mears
- Location of story:Ìý
- South Africa
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:Ìý
- A8002649
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 23 December 2005
John Ronald Mears, Flight Sergeant, Royal Air Force
John (known as Jack to his brother and friends) was called for service in the Royal Air Force in 1942. He was sent to South Africa for training as a pilot but it is understood he did too many daring flights to become a steady Bomber pilot and so became a Naviagor/ Bomb Aimer. The ‘off duty’ tricks in South Africa included the trainees dumping a Baby Austin in a Cape Town Post Office!
He successfully completed 30 operational flights, a normal full tour of operational duty. His fellow drew members however persuading him to volunteer for further operational flights- probably ‘path finding’ duties. He failed to return from an operational sortie over Worms in Germany on the night of 21st February 1945.
John married in late 1944
He is buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany in a collective grave with his fellow crew members, Plot 2, Row K, grave numbers 8-13. Details on the grave; 1935032 Flight Sergeant; J R Mears; Air Member; Royal Air Force; 21st Febrary 1945, Age 23.
They who were so young and gay, gave their tomorrow for our today.
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