Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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20.09.1943 No. 198 Squadron Typhoon Ib JP723 Fl/Sgt. Ronald F. Broad

Operation: Rhubarb

Date: 20th September 1943 (Monday)

Unit: No. 198 Squadron

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: JP723

Code: TP-? Can you assist with this code?

Base: RAF Manston

Location: Vladslo, Belgium

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Ronald Frederick Broad 1336532 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

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We would dearly love a photograph of Ronald, if any relative would care to contact us it would be very much appreciated by both Keith Donaghy who visited his grave and planted a flower and of course us, to place on this page. 

Update October 2014: relative contacted us, photo kindly supplied!

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REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part in a rhubarb operation during what has been described as atrocious conditions. 198 Squadron took off during the afternoon to attack trains and other targets in the Bray-Dunes and Roeselare region.

Fl/Sgt. Ronald Frederick Broad (courtesy Jeff Mart)

 F/O. Houston and Fl/Sgt. Broad were both hit by flak as they attacked ground targets at low level. F/O. Houston came down in the Rouen area at 14.35 hrs, taken pow, sadly Fl/Sgt. Broad was killed when his aircraft crashed at Vladslo just 10 minutes later at 14.45 hrs, where he is buried. His is the only CWGC grave in the town’s cemetery.

A great loss to the squadron as they had been very experienced and had been in this squadron for over a year. He had joined when the Squadron had reformed at RAF Digby on the 8th December 1942 as a Sergeant.

Left: The grave of Fl/Sgt. Broad - the single CWGC grave at  Vladslo Cemetery, Belgium. Any relative who would like a high resolution of this are invited to contact us. (courtesy Keith Donaghy)

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Ronald Frederick Broad. Vladslo Churchyard, Belgium. Son of Frederick Harold and Gertrude Elizabeth Broad, of Leytonstone, Essex, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Keith Donaghy who visited the grave, planted a small flower in remembrance and contacted us. Thanks also to Jeff Mart - relative who sent us his photo in October 2014.

Also to the late John Cripps - 198 Squadron Association and his wife, who is trying so hard to maintain John's work, in his memory.

Further information supplied by Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol’s 1-3, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. With additional details from Aircrew Remembered own archives.

Fl/Sgt. Broad had an earlier lucky escape when on the 10th June 1943 he crashed his Typhoon EK142 at Martlesham Heath whilst trying to avoid a Spitfire that had crossed in front of him. 

No injuries were reported.

Shown below extracts from former Typhoon pilots and video footage.

               

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