THE VILLAGERS OF COLLINGHAM AND LINTON WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO

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This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham and Linton who served during World War 2.
Heydon, Reville Hardacre
(1919-1944)
 
World War 2 medal rolls are not available. The medal ribbons shown above are those we believe would have been awarded.

Rank and Unit at End of World War Two

Rank Flight Sergeant

Service Number 1218270

Service RAF

Unit 179 Squadron

Regiment Royal Air Force

Killed in Action: 13th June 1944

Commemorated at: Runnymeade Memorial

Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Listed on an illustrated list of Linton Parishoners who served
  • Named on village war memorials

Biography

Family Background

On the 4th June 1918 Lieutenant Frank Heydon married Doris Mary Hardacre at St. Barnabas Church in Mitcham, Surrey. Frank was from Stockport and Doris from Mitcham. Their marriage certificate tells us that Frank was a Lieutenant in the Army but does not give his regiment, but a Lieut Frank Haydon [note different spelling] was in the Lancaster Fusiliers and this may be the same person. Just over one year after their marriage, on the 4th July 1919, Frank and Doris' first child, Reville Hardacre Heydon, was born in Stockport. Another child, a daughter Denise Rosemary Heydon followed born in Dinwick, Cheshire in 1920. At the time of the 1921 census the family were living at The Cottage, Middleton Lane, Warrington and on the night of the census, they were joined by Frank's sister-in-law and nephew. Frank was a Land Agent working at Earle Estate Office Ltd at 88 King Street, Manchester.

We know little of Reville's early life, it appears that in 1936 he briefly joined the RAF from the 6th October 1936 to the 15th December the same year, as an aircraft hand with a service number 535184. Our next trace of Reville is in 1939, when the then 20 year old Reville was recorded at 116 Crocketts Road, Birmingham where he was a draftsman. At the same time, his family had left Lancashire and, since 1938 were living at Midhurst, Linton, marking their connection with the Collingham and Linton area.

Many later records note that Reville Hardacre Heydon was known as 'Bill'.

Service Record

Reville Hardacre 'Bill' Heydon enlisted for service in the RAF on the 1st February 1941, at No. 2 Recruits Centre at RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire. After a couple of weeks, on the 17th February 'Bill' joined No. 4 Recruits Centre at RAF Bridgnorth at Stanmore, to the East of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. The role of No.4 Recruit Centre was to carry out the basic training of new recruits in the RAF although during its existence, RAF Bridgnorth never had a runway.

At this stage of the war, aircrew training normally took place in four steps - 8 weeks at Initial Training School, 10 weeks at Elementary Flying Training School, 16 weeks at Service Flying Training School after which RAF wings were awarded, and then finally 4-6 weeks at an Operational Training Unit before posting to operations with an operational squadron. However, 'Bill's' training seems to have started in a different way, perhaps because he had already had a brief time in the RAF, and on the 21st March 1941 he was posted directly to No. 13 Operational Training Unit (13OTU). 13 OTU had formed in April 1940 as part of No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command at RAF Bicester to train originally Bristol Blenheim light day bomber aircrew. After 3 months at 13 OTU, 'Bill' was transferred to 14 OTU. 14 OTU was based at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland in No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command with a role to train night bomber crews using Hampdens and HP 53 Herefords.

From the 2nd May to the 29th May 1941, 'Bill' Heydon was in the RAF Hospital at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire. After his release from hospital he was posted to No 1 Receiving Wing RAF (later designated No 1 ITW (Initial Training Wing)) at Babbacombe near Torquay on the 21st June 1941 and from there, on the 5th July 1941 to No. 10 ITW at Scarborough. 'Bill's' training would have started at this time, but the skies above England were not the ideal place to learn to fly in 1941 and the RAF started using the Empire Training Scheme to train its next pilots, with many training in Canada. For 'Bill' however the training took place in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and he was posted there on the 28th August 1941, joining No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School (25 EFTS) on the 1st December 1941 and to an Initial Training Wing at Bulawayo on the27th February 1942. A war time Elementary Flying training School (EFTS) gave a recruit 50 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer, such as the de Havilland Tiger Moth. Pilot cadets who showed promise went onto training at a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) where they were awarded their 'wings.' The SFTS provided intermediate and advanced training for pilots, including fighter and twin-engined aircraft, on the North American Harvard and Airspeed Oxford aeroplanes and 'Bill' Heydon progressed to No 21 SFTS on the 21st March 1942.

No. 21 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) was at Kumalo, Bulawayo. Kumalo had a single concrete runway with a cemetery at one end and a sewage farm at the other! Trainees flew Airspeed Oxfords, a twin Cheetah engined aircraft, a military derivative of the Courier, and the North American AT6A Harvard. Some flying was done from satellite bush airfields such as Woollandale. Bombing, low and high level, was practiced at the ranges Miasi and Mielbo, named so in the African tradition.

At the end of 1942 'Bill' returned to the Home Establishment of the RAF, but we do not think he embarked for the UK until February 1943 and we find him at No. 7 Personnel Reception Centre at RAF Whitely Bay on the 14th February 1943. After passing through RAF Bridgenorth, on the 15th June 1943 'Bill' was at 15 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit (15 (P)AFU) at . These units were established to introduce the newly qualified pilots to flying conditions over the UK, rather than the flights over the quieter skies of the dominions. After a month at 15(P)AFU, 'Bill' transferred to 18(P)AFU at RAF Church Lawford south west of Rugby in Warwickshire.

The final stage of 'Bill' Heydon's flying training was a posting to an operational training unit. In 'Bill's' case he was marked down for flying with Coastal Command and he was posted to No. 3 (Coastal) OTU at RAF Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.

From 3(C)OTU 'Bill' was posted to his first operational squadron, No. 172 Squadron, on the 29th September 1943. 172 Squadron was an anti-submarine squadron in Coastal Command that operated the Vickers Wellington equipped with the Leigh Light. The Leigh Light was a powerful (22 million candles) searchlight that was used to illuminate the surface of the sea and any submarines caught on the surface. It operated from bases such as Malta, Gibraltar and the Azores to exploit the new invention and it was also used to attack surface vessels. The squadron re-equipped with the Wellington Mark XIII and the rate of sorties increased, although the aircraft losses also increased as they were hunted by German night-fighters in the Western Approaches. In September 1943, 172 squadron was at RAF Chivenor located on the northern shore of the River Taw estuary, on the north coast of Devon, England near Barnstaple and Braunton. The Operational Record Book of 172 Squadron does not name 'Bill' Heydon at this time, but it does record that two crews arrived on the 29th September on posting from No 3(C) OTU - Captains F/O L.H. Such and F/Sgt A.C. Kidson, but flights by these crews later in November do not include 'Bill' Heydon, and the first mention we find is that 'Bill' Heydon was posted to 172 Squadron on the 28th November from RAF Pembroke Dock.

Surprisingly, no further mention of Sgt Heydon occurs in the Operational Record Book and no operational flights are recorded. 'Bill's' record sheet next records his transfer on the 28th December 1943 to 612 Squadron.

No. 612 squadron was a maritime reconnaissance (General Reconnaissance) unit within RAF Coastal Command, flying by this stage of the war in various marks of specially adapted General Reconnaissance (GR) versions of the Vickers Wellington. 'Bill' Heydon's service record sheet shows him with 612 Squadron until the 10th February 1944, but we can find no mention of him or of any operational flights in the 612 Squadron Operational Record Book.

On the 10th February 1944 'Bill's' record sheet shows he is posted to 5PDC (5 Personnel Despatch Centre at RAF Padgate) and he was then posted, on the 19th February 1944, to 179 Squadron RAF. No. 179 Squadron RAF was a maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare unit of the RAF equipped with Leigh light equipped Wellingtons, and in February 1944 was based at Gibraltar. No mention of 'Bill' Heydon's posting into the squadron can be found in the Operational Record Book, but a first operational sortie is found on the 24th March 1944.

By this stage of the war, many preparations were taking place all across southern England for the forthcoming invasion of the continent on D-Day, but operations in the Mediterranean were still on-going. Malta had been relieved, Sicily taken by the allies and the invasion of Italy was underway. Another invasion, of the south of France was also well into planning,and arms, supplies and men were transported through the Straits of Gibraltar. This narrow bottleneck was a target for German U-boats to attack our convoys. To help to protect the ships, anti-submarine aircraft patrols were flown on both sides of the Straits, but particularly on the Atlantic side, where U-Boats based in France could pass through the Bay of Biscay to attack the convoys. German U-boats travelled faster on the surface and need to surface to charge their batteries, but were vulnerable to air attack. Submarines often travelled underwater by day, surfacing at night. However Allied advances in radar technology now made even these night surface passages dangerous but air attacks still relied on sight for final attacks. The Leigh Light Wellingtons operated by 279 Squadron formed an important part of the Allied anti-submarine warfare. Patrolling areas at sea at night, these aircraft found their targets by radar and started homing in, then when close enough to attack, the aircraft switched on their very powerful searchlights (the Leigh Lights) illuminating the radar contact. If it was a friendly vessel, the lights would be extinguished and the vessel allowed to proceed; but if it was a surfaced German U-Boat, the lights would illuminate the target as bombs or depth charges were rapidly released to sink or damage the U-Boat.

First trip

Bill Haydon's first operational sortie was such a anti-submarine patrol over the Atlantic approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Date
Target
Aircraft
24-3-44
Anti U-boat patrol west of Gibraltar
Wellington OZ-H
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
20.54
Gibraltar
07.45
Raid Details
Four aircraft of 179 squadron carried out anti-U-boat patrols to the west of Gibraltar none of which provided any unusual features.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
An area bounded as shown was covered three times at 900 feet in good weather with a moderate to rough sea. All contacts obtained were identified as surface vessels.

Second trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
28-3-44
Anti U-boat patrol west of Gibraltar
Wellington OZ-C
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
16.54
Gibraltar
06.04
Raid Details
Four aircraft of 179 squadron carried out operational sorties - one an anti-U-boat patrol to the north west and three on similar patrols to the west of Gibraltar. The north-westerly patrol and two of those to the west were uneventful but aircraft 'E', Captained by Sgt Bobart, was diverted to search along the Spanish Moroccan coast and to identify an RDF contact reported in position 35.35N 0512W. This was done and proved to be a fishing vessel: nothing suspicious was seen.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
An area as shown, was covered 3½ times in fine weather (except for cloud to 400 feet at the entrance to the straits) at a height of 900 feet. The ASV became unserviceable for a few minutes during the patrol but the fault was rectified. Numerous contacts were obtained and illuminated, all proving to be normal.

Third trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
1-4-44
Anti U-boat patrol east of Gibraltar
Wellington OZ-N
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
20.49
Gibraltar
08.10
Raid Details
Four aircraft of 179 squadron carried out operational sorties to the East of Gibraltar in search of a U/boat suspected of having passed through the Straits from the West. Aircraft 'N' F/Sgt Walmsley obtained a disappearing contact and sighted oil slicks but although marine markers were dropped and destroyers homed to the position nothing further developed. Aircraft 'J' Captain Sgt Bobart was instructed to investigate an unidentified unit in position 3547N 0512W but this proved to be two small fishing vessels. The other patrols were carried out without unusual incident.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
An area to the East of Gibraltar was covered at a height of 700 ft in good weather which deteriorated towards base. At 01.46 and ASV contact was obtained at a range of 10½ miles bearing 090° from position 3545N 0434W. This contact disappeared when range was closed to 8½ miles. The aircraft flew over the estimated position viz. 3545N 0421W (shown as red dot) and dropped a marine marker Mark II, then signalled base and commenced bombing procedure; oil slicks were seen slightly north of the position. At 02.26 a signal was sent to base 'remaining over marker - PIE 6½ hours' to which base replied ' Remain over marker - continue homing'. At 04.20 a marker marine Mk. II was seen ½ mile to the south-east. At 04.45 the captain was instructed to drop markers and resume patrol. Four destroyers were seen at this time 18 miles to north-west. Nothing further was seen.

Fourth trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
5-4-44
Anti U-boat patrol west of Gibraltar
Wellington OZ-X
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
19.24
Gibraltar
05.26
Raid Details
Four aircraft of 179 squadron carried out anti U-boat patrols to the west of Gibraltar searching for a U/boat thought to be within 100 miles of Gibraltar. Weather was poor throughout the patrol areas and two aircraft returned early owing to this fact. One aircraft slightly curtailed the patrol owing to W/T failure and the ASV temporarily failed on one of those aircraft which returned owing to the weather. The patrols were otherwise without significant incident.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
The area shown was patrolled 3 times at 800 feet. No abnormal incidents occurred but at 0420 the weather had deteriorated so badly that the Captain signalled base that he was discontinuing the patrol as it was useless to continue. Weather was poor in the patrol area.

Fifth trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
13-4-44
Anti U-boat patrol west of Gibraltar
Wellington OZ-M
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
00.01
Gibraltar
11.09
Raid Details
Four aircraft of 179 squadron carried out anti U-boat sorties to the West of Gibraltar: the area of probability indicated 'one possibly west of Gibraltar'. Aircraft 'R' Captain: F/O O'Dwyer obtained an ASV contact which disappeared when the aircraft turned to home and was not regained. A single steady pinkish light was also seen in the presumed position of the contact but this disappeared also and was not seen again. The other patrols were uneventful.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
At 0425 patrol was commenced through the area shown in good weather at 900 feet. Owing to very poor weather conditions the easterly half of the area was not covered. Convoy SL 154/MKS45 was contacted on ASV at 04.25 at a range of 17 miles. At 04.51 a contact was investigated with Leigh Light and found to be two merchant vessels escorted by a corvette.

Sixth trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
21-4-44
Anti U-boat patrol N.W. of Gibraltar
Wellington OZ-C
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
18.57
Gibraltar
06.00
Raid Details
Five aircraft of 179 squadron were airborne on operations - all patrols North West of Gibraltar to cover a possibility of 1 U-boat in the vicinity of 41.00N 09.30W (red dot on map) and 2 U-boats outward bound in a radius of 60 miles of 43.30N 08.30W. One aircraft was forced to return to base soon after becoming airborne owing to ASV failure. The remianing patrols were duly carried out but yielded no results.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
The patrol area was as shown and was covered twice at 1000 feet in good weather. Numerous ASV contacts were obtained but all were found to be surface craft upon illumination with Leigh Light. At 01.58 a '414' was sent but on closing range an unlighted schooner of 300/400 tons was illuminated and the report cancelled.

Seventh trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
24-4-44
Unarmed transit reconnaissance from Gibraltar to Predannack
Wellington OZ-X
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Gibraltar
18.38
Predannack
04.22
Raid Details
In accordance with instructions the Squadron moved from Gibraltar to Predannack thence to operate under the control of 19 Group. The Squadron moved in two parts, airborne and seaborne, the air party consisting of eleven aircraft and crews, each aircraft carrying three 'key' ground personnel and kit. Ten aircraft took off on the 24th April; The eleventh 'Z' was delayed by engine trouble but was able to get off on the 2th April. All aircraft reached Predannack without incident carrying out unarmed reconnaissance en route.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
Ten aircraft of the squadron left North Front Gibraltar, for Predannack carrying out reconnaissance en route. All the flights were uneventful and were made at heaights carying between 1500 and 5000 feet in good weather. Each aircraft carried three 'key' ground crew and kit in lieu of lethal load. The 11th aircraft scheduled to leave at the same time was held up by engine trouble and took off the following day.

Eighth trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
9-6-44
Anti U-boat patrol Rover 'W' in channel area
Wellington OZ-M
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Predannack
17.35
Predannack
04.35
Raid Details
This patrol was carried out at an average height of 1000 feet in generally good weather. No unusual incidents occurred throughout.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
Three aircraft of 179 squadron carried out anti U-boat patrols in the channel area. Two patrols were entirely uneventful; the third aircraft intercepted a periscope sighting and carried out a square search in the position indicated without result. Later another sighting report was intercepted from position 48.31N 05.02W but while proceeding to this position a further message was intercepted 'U-boat sunk' and accordingly no further search was made.

Ninth trip

Date
Target
Aircraft
12-6-44
Anti U-boat patrol 'O' in channel area
Wellington OZ-K
Aircraft serial numbers recorded in Operational Record Book are difficult to read in some cases and there may be errors recorded here. Aircraft letters are not always recorded. We have tried to identify the correct aircraft letter codes.
Bomb Load
Take Off
Landed
Place
Time
Place
Time
Predannack
23.14
Did not return
Raid Details
No signals were received from this aircraft which did not return. Weather was poor in the vicinity of base.
Crew
Flight Route (click on map to open larger map)
Pilot
W/O J. Walmsley
2nd Pilot
F/Sgt R.H. Heydon
Observer
F/Sgt M.F. George
Wireless Operator
Sgt E.H.J. Bashford
Air Gunner
Sgt R.D. Burns
Air Gunner
Sgt J.N.D. Dewar
Debriefing Report
Five aircraft of 179 squadron were airborne on anti U-boat patrols in the channel area. One aircraft sighted a green fluorescent patch on the surface and making contact with an HSL searching in the vicinity, homed it to the position. This aircraft was later diverted to St.Eval owing to poor weather at base. Another aircraft then obtained a radar contact which disappeared at ranges of four and two miles respectively; during the subsequent search radar and 'Gee' jamming was experienced. The aircraft was later recalled to base owing to impending bad weather and jettisoned 300 gallons of fuel prior to landing. The remaining patrols were uneventful but one aircraft was recalled owing to weather at base and was diverted to St. Eval. Aircraft 'K' Captain F/Sgt WALMSLEY failed to return from patrol. No signals were received and no air plots could be obtained.

 
Notes: Those killed were :
1127932 Warrant Officer John Walmsley, aged 33, married, of Fulwood, Lancashire
1218270 Flight Sgt Reville Hardacre Heydon, of Linton
1585279 Flight Sergeant Michael Francis George, aged 21, of Herne Hill, London
1577580 Sgt Eric Hulbert James Bashford, aged 21, of Yardley, Birmingham
1520626 Sgt Robert Dennis Burns, aged 21, of Isleworth, Middlesex
1560512 Sgt James Norman Denis Dewar, aged, 20, of Glasgow
The aircraft was not found and all the crew are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede in Surrey where the UK commemorates those RAF crew members who have no known grave.
 

Reville Hardacre Heydon is commemorated on the village War Memorials in St.Oswald's Church and in the Memorial Hall, Linton.

Biography last updated 25 November 2022 13:31:44.

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info