The Association has learned of the death of Lt Ronald Henry Ayrton RN. He lived in Suffolk and is survived by his sons.
From Records
Ronald flew the Chance Vought Corsair with 1838 and 1833 Squadrons between 1943 – 1945 embarked on HMS Atheling during that period.
1945 – 1946 part of the “Clockwork Mice” programme explained in Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm by Ray Sturtivant and Theo Balance as follows:
No. 731 Squadron formed at East Haven on 5 December 1943 for Deck Landing Control Officer training. The main equipment was Swordfish, but Fulmars, Sea Hurricanes and Seafires were also used. Batsmen to give them their colloquial name, were given initial experience by squadron aircraft continuously being in circuit, executing dummy deck landings and then taking off again. This specialised function gave rise to the term “Clockwork Mice”, though pilots sometimes indulged in rather more eccentric flying in order to make things difficult for the pupil batsmen.
1947 Paris Embassy
1947/48 DLCO HMS Ocean
Lt: Ronald Ayrton RN.
He applied in August 1941 under the ‘7’ Scheme and after a spell in the local Chingford, Essex Home Guard and at H.M.S Royal Arthur (ex Butlins, Skegness) he joined 39th Pilots Course under C.P.O Wilmott.
He obtained his pilots badge at Pensacola after primary training at Grosse Isle, Detroit, and proceeded to Miami for fighter training under Donald Gibson. He was a pilot in the newly forming 1838 Squadron (Corsairs) at Brunswick Maine (Brian Saunderson) which in Januray 1944 found itself in Minneriya, Ceylon. After operations against Japanese targets from “Victorious” the squadron joined “ Illustrious” at Cape Town, being apportioned between 1833, Norman Hanson and 1830, Mike Tritton forming 15th Fighter Wing. Operations at Palembang and Sakashima followed before Illustrious with her air group was withdrawn to the UK. After a period of clockwork mousing with Corsairs, Barracuda, Firefly and Swordfish he took part in the reforming of the French naval air arm by instructing their pilots at Easthaven. After this he was appointed as “resident” DLCO at Eglinton. An appointment to lead a weekly flight of Seafires to Paris followed, much to his liking, a sixteen month commission as DLCO on “Ocean” based at Malta was similarly pleasant. His final appointment was as DLCO on “Illustrious” (Capt. Hughes-Hallet) in her capacity as Trials and Training Carrier. He left the Service in 1950 and eventually settled for a career in insurance in the City where he indulged in his love of music and of playing the violin, which in his City days included taking part in many symphonic concerts at the Festival Hall. He retired to Aldeburgh in 1985. His wife predeceased him in 2010 and he leaves two sons and four Grandchildren.
Lieutenant Ronald Henry Ayrton RN
Ron Ayrton died on 14 May 2015 aged 93. He applied in August 1941 under the ‘7’ Scheme and after a spell in the local Chingford, Essex Home Guard and at HMS Royal Arthur (ex Butlins, Skegness) he joined 39 Pilots Course under CPO Wilmott.
He obtained his pilot’s badge at Pensacola after primary training at Grosse Isle, Detroit, and proceeded to Miami for fighter training under Donald Gibson. He was a pilot in the newly forming 1838 Squadron (Corsairs) at Brunswick Maine (Brian Saunderson) which in January 1944 found itself in Minneriya, Ceylon. After operations against Japanese targets from Victorious the squadron joined Illustrious at Cape Town, being apportioned between 1833, (Norman Hanson) and 1830 (Mike Tritton), forming the 15th Fighter Wing. Operations at Palembang and Sakashima followed before Illustrious with her air group was withdrawn to the UK.
After a period of Clockwork Mousing with Corsairs, Barracuda, Firefly and Swordfish he took part in the reforming of the French Naval Air Arm by instructing their pilots at Easthaven. After this he was appointed as resident DLCO at Eglinton. An appointment to lead a weekly flight of Seafires to Paris followed, much to his liking, a sixteen month commission as DLCO on Ocean based at Malta was similarly pleasant. His final appointment was as DLCO on Illustrious (Captain Hughes-Hallet) in her capacity as the Trials and Training Carrier.
He left the Service in 1950 and eventually settled for a career in insurance in the City where he indulged in his love of music and of playing the violin, which in his City days included taking part in many symphonic concerts at the Festival Hall. He retired to Aldeburgh in 1985. His wife predeceased him in 2010 and he leaves two sons and four Grandchildren.