Career
Fokes joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1937, and eventually joined Number. 151 Squadron Royal Air Force in April 1939, moving to Number. 87 Squadron Royal Air Force a few days later.
After the outbreak of war he joined Number.
92 Squadron Royal Air Force in January 1940. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in November 1940, and commissioned later the same month.
In May 1941 he was posted to Number. 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Heston as an instructor and then to the Central Flying School, Upavon on an instructor"s course.
A spell at Number. 61 OTU followed.
In November 1941 he joined Number. 154 Squadron as a flight commander. In March 1942 he joined Number.
56 Squadron flying the Hawker Typhoon.
In August he became a test pilot on Typhoons at Gloster Aircraft, until February 1943 when he returned to operations with Number. 193 Squadron. Fokes took command of Number.
257 Squadron Royal Air Force flying the Hawker Typhoon in July 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in March 1944, and was due to end his tour just before Doctorate-day, but elected to remain with the Squadron until after the invasion.
He was then shot down and killed by flak on a ground attack mission over Caen, France, on 12 June 1944.
Fokes" combat record reads: nine kills, four shared kills, two unconfirmed kills, three probable kills, one damaged and one shared damaged. 15 November 1940 – 740109 Sergeant Ronald Henry Fokes, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Number.