Operation: ASR Sortie
Date: 16th April 1942 (Thursday)
Unit: No. 234 Squadron
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: AR374
Code: AZ-Not known
Base: RAF Ibsley, Hampshire, England
Location: English Channel off Cherbourg
Pilot: P/O. Ralph Skelton Woolass 102073 (NCO-1064093) RAFVR Age 24. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Understood to be on an Air Sea Rescue cover patrol when shot down by Me109 at 17:10 hrs.
Also lost this day from the Squadron:
BL889 Spitfire Vb flown by 20 year old P/O. George Roxberry Bland 101023 RAFVR from Aldbourne, England - also not recovered and remembered on the Runnymede Memorial (see below).
Burial details:
P/O. Ralph Skelton Woolass. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 72. Born on the 23rd September 1917, the son of Stanley and Jessie Gertrude Woolass (Née Skelton), of North Anston, Yorkshire, England. Brother to Peter and David. Enlisted on the 18th August 1940 at RAF Padgate. After training in Canada posted to No. 53 OTU at RAF Llandow before finally going 234 Squadron at RAF Ibsen on the 16th September 1941.
Other: George Roxberry Bland. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 68. Son of Maj. Valentine Stevens Bland, M.C, and Doris Bland, of Aldbourne, Wiltshire, England.
Researched and dedicated for the brother of this pilot, Mr. David Woolass in July 2016. With thanks to Amanda West for Runnymede Memorial Panel photographs. Other sources as quoted below:
