Education
Wallens was educated at Worksop College.
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Ronald Wallens
Edit ProfileCareer
Wallens joined the on a short service commission in 1937. He joined his first squadron Number. 41 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Catterick on 26 March 1938.
From August to October 1938 he undertook further flying training before rejoining the squadron.
He was granted the rank of Pilot Officer in October 1939 and Flying Officer in July 1940. Battle of Britain
41 Sqn joined the Battle of Britain in August 1940.
On 8 August Wallens claimed 2 Bf 109s destroyed, and one shared destroyed. He shared a Ju 88 on 11 August.
On 5 September 1940 Wallens was shot down by a Messerschmitt Maine 109 of JG 54 and seriously wounded in action over the Thames Estuary.
Wallens"s flight was ordered to make a head-on attack on a large formation of Dornier 17 bombers with 50 plus Bf 109 escorts over Gravesend. Wallens considered the head-on assault "a desperate manoeuvre that could age one very prematurely". Within seconds ‘B’ Flight"s six Spitfires were overwhelmed.
Two collided and were lost.
Another was shot up with the pilot bailing out. Wallens broke away. Seeing two Bf 109’s below him he dived and destroyed one.
He was lining up the second in his sights when he was attacked from above:
With his leg shattered by a shell, Wallens tried to bail out but his canopy had jammed. He crash-landed four miles from his base at Hornchurch, smashing through a fence and hurdling a ditch before coming to rest in a hayfield.
He found that one bullet had removed his helmet"s right radio earphone and another the face from his wristwatch.
Wallens had five confirmed kills to his cr before he was shot down. Wallens was hospitalised until April 1941. During his prolonged convalescence at the Royal Air Force Rehabilitation Unit, Torquay, Wallens was much assisted by Dan Maskell, later known as a British Broadcasting Corporation tennis commentator, who ran the gymnasium.
Wallens returned to 41 Squadron in April 1943 but ordered to undertake further convalescence.
He was posted on promotion to Flight Lieutenant in July 1943 to Number 1 Aircraft Delivery Flight at Royal Air Force Hendon, a squadron he went on to command in 1943. Air Sea Rescue
Wallens was classified "Unfit for operational flying" in 1943 he was posted to Number.
277 Air Sea Rescue Squadron at Royal Air Force Hawkinge, Kent. He assumed command of the squadron in 1944.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in July 1944.
The citation read:
In combat in September, 1940, he was wounded in the leg by a cannon shell. Since his return to operational duties he has undertaken many air/sea rescue sorties and has been responsible for saving a number of personnel from the sea. He has set a splendid example of gallantry and devotion to duty.
In October 1946, Wallens transferred to the Administrative and Special Duties Branch.
He left the Royal Air Force in 1949. After the war he worked in the motor trade and ran pubs and hotels.
In 1990, Wallens published his autobiography Flying Made My Arms Ache. lieutenant contains an evocative account of the Battle of Britain.
(The day) started off well, but was to end in a terrible shambles.
I was petrified but had to grin, six Spitfires against so many 109’s was a bloody tall order.. we were literally flying above the backs of the Jerry bombers.. I had been petrified earlier but now I was s******* blue lights at the sight of so many swastikas and black crosses.
. wishing to hell the Colorado would call it off and come back tomorrow.
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Born
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Died
November 13, 1995 (aged 79) -
Nationality
United Kingdom