Squadron Leader Reginal Norman Ayles DFC DFM

Born in Kensington in 1919 and enlisted in 1939, making several trips across the channel from RAF benson with 98 squadron during the fall of France. After qualifying as an Air Observer, 581490 Sergeant Ayles was posted to 103 Squadron where he completed a full tour of operations as a navigator on Wellingtons. and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 24 October 1941. The citation reads;

"Sergeant Ayles, since joining the squadron in June 1940, has become the most experienced navigator in the squadron. On no occasion has he failed to bomb his object due to any navigational errors, and on one occasion only has his aircraft failed to return to base after operations. On this occasion, the 7/8 August 1941, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at Bircham Newton due to engine trouble after being badly hit by flak over Germany. Besides carrying out his duties as bomb aimer, Sergeant Ayles is particularly successful on photography and various occasions has succeeded in bringing back a good exposure of the aiming point. By his coolness and show of spirit when under fire, and over the target, this N.C.O. is to a large extent responsible for the fine high morale which exists in his crew as a whole, which sets a very fine example to the remainder of the squadron."

Following his tour with 103 squadron he intructed at 27 O.T.U. He was called up for participation in thousand bomber raids on Cologne on 30 may 1942 and Essen two night later. On 7 December 1942 he was posted to 61 squadron. His Warrant Officer promotion was gazetted on 7 March 1943.

Warrant Officer R N Ayles joined 61 squadron fron 81 operational Training Unit on 7 December 1942. he flew with 4 different crews during his tour with 61 squadron. Sergeant P L Elliot, Flight Sergeant W G Baker, Squadron leader D Ward-Hunt and squadron leader G A V Gascoygne-Cecil. Completeing 22 Operations on his second tour

R N Ayles 3rd from right standing

His first operation was with 61 squadron was on 17/18 december 1942. The full tour being;

17/18 December 1942. Lancaster W4192. Sgt P L Elliott, Sgt E Tyler, W/O R Ayles, Sgt J R Munro, Sgt G A Smith, Sgt P E McCarthy, F/Sgt R Bird. Target - Gardening.                20/21 December 1942. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Taget - Duisburg. 21/22 December 1942. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Target - Munich. 12/13 January 1943. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin.Target - Essen.  16/17 January 1943. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Target - Berlin. 17/18 January 1943. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Target - Berlin. 21/22 January 1943. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Target - Essen. 27/28 January 1943. Lancaster W4763. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Target - Dusseldorf. 2/3 February 1943. Lancaster W4769. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin. Target - Cologne.  4/5 february 1943. Lancaster ED359. F/Sgt W G Baker, Sgt M Carter, W/O R N Ayles, F/Sgt J R Wooley, Sgt W A Crawshaw, Sgt E A Roberts, Sgt H Rankin.  Target - Turin.          13/14 February 1943. Lancaster W4767. S/Ldr D Ward-Hunt, Sgt T Warne, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Sgt D Marshall, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Cuddington.Target -Lorient.  14/15 February 1943. Lancaster DS612. S/Ldr D Ward-Hunt, Sgt E Tyler, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Sgt D Marshall, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Cuddington.Target - Milan. 16/17 February 1943. Lancaster DS612. S/Ldr D Ward-Hunt, Sgt E Tyler, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Sgt D Marshall, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Cuddington. Target - Lorient. 1/2 March 1943. Lancaster W4903. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, W/O R N Ayles, Sgt R H Lucas, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt S R Hughes, F/Sgt L Say. Target - Berlin.                          5/6 March 1943. Lancaster W4903. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say.  Target - Essen.          9/10 March 1943. Lancaster W4903. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, W/O R N Ayles, Sgt R H Lucas, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say.         Target - Munich. 12/13 March 1943. Lancaster ED722. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, Sgt E Cummins, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say.         Target - Essen. 22/23 March 1943. Lancaster W4934. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say.  Target - St Nazaire. 26/27 March 1943. Lancaster ED718. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say.     Target Duisburg       3/4 April 1943. Lancaster W4934. S/Ldr RAV G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, Sgt A W Pullen,  W/O R N Ayles, P/O HG Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say.  Target-Essen. 16/17 April 1943. Lancaster W4934. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say. Sgt Archer Target-Pilsen. 18/19 April 1943. Lancaster W4934. S/Ldr R A V G-Cecil, P/O B Jackson, Sgt Kirkham, W/O R N Ayles, P/O H G Brewer, F/Lt W Neath, Sgt H W Hammant, F/Sgt L Say. Target-Spezia. 7th May 1943. Pilot officer R N Ayles posted to 1661 Conversion Unit

13 July 1943. Pilot officer R N Ayles was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross. 

His citation reads;  "Since the award of the DFM, this officer has taken part in many operations with much success. Even when his aircraft has been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, he has remained cool and undaunted, and his example has been an inspiration to his crew. During his second tour of duty he has completed three attacks on Berlin and six on Essen, and has also operated against heavily defended targets in the Ruhr and Italy."

From May to November 1943 he served with the Lancaster Heavy Conversion Units at Winthorpe and Balderton. In 1944 he became Senior Navigating Officer, Balderton, and on 11 and 12 March 1945 flew two final missions against German targets. In April he moved to Skellingthorpe and in September 1945 became Wing Navigating Officer at Metheringham.

Reginald Norman Ayles emigrated to Australia in the 1960's. He died in Brisbane, Queensland in 1992.

Thanks to his Granddaughter Judith Bowes Barratt for the information supplied.

Mike Connock