The RAF Association was sad to learn of the recent passing of WWII veteran and Association member Raymond Aird, aged 100. Raymond joined the RAF when he was 18. He trained as a wireless operator/air gunner, and attended RAF College Cranwell to complete a radio mechanics course.
Raymond in uniform. (Image courtesy of family archive).
Posted to Coastal Command's 220 squadron, he flew in B-17 Flying Fortresses. While based in the Azores escorting convoys and hunting German U-boats in the North Atlantic, Raymond once had to escort US president Franklin D. Roosevelt. The president was on his way to the Yalta Conference to discuss the postwar reorganisation of Germany and Europe with Stalin and Churchill.
During one operation, Raymond spotted a life raft in the mid-Atlantic with merchant seamen on board. He radioed for help and a Royal Navy destroyer came to the men's aid. They had been at sea in the raft for 18 days.
By the war's end, Raymond had completed 34 operations and flown 641 hours on B-17s and B-24s. He was awarded seven medals for his wartime service.
After the war, Raymond joined 51 Squadron and served in the far east. During his career in the RAF he visited 20 countries, 54 different airfields and clocked 1,435 flying hours.
Raymond was very proud of his service in the RAF, and was a member of the Association's Newcastle and Gateshead Branch.
B-17 Flying Fortress of 220 Squadron in flight over the Atlantic Ocean. (Image ©IWM).
