Hi all, i'm new to this and wondered if anyone had any info on Sgt Kenneth D Hayward (my grandad) i know he was a pilot and flew Wellingtons and Lancasters 622 Sqdn ( i'm sure he was a Sgt). He was one of many who survived, and bombed Dusseldorf, Dresden among others....He was living in Barnet at the time he was called up. I know he was stationed up at Lossiemouth for a bit too.. I did get told he has an awful experience, on returning home his aircraft was hit, but he limped home landing the plane on its belly, burning. As they clambered out, only he and one other survived, the others couldn't get out it time. He tried to go back and rescue them but was held back by others as it was too far gone! Grandad died in 1991 (on my birthday) as has my grandma... my dad has sadly also passed away, so getting any info is quite difficult... I would dearly love to find out more and exhausted most websites trying!!!
Have you tried obtaining his RAF service record?. You can apply online but you will have to prove that you are next of kin if you want the complete record (otherwise you will only get an abridged version). They cost about £30 (I think) and I understand that they are taking about a year to come through at the moment .... but they are worth the wait if you want the detail of his service.
You can also obtain Operational Records from the National Archives which will provide crew details and missions for 622 squadron (but you will need to have a rough idea of dates otherwise it could get expensive). If you need any further information on this subject let me know and I will e-mail some examples of what you can get.
In the mean time, if you have any additional details, such as service number that may help us provide more information for you, then please let us know.
Regards
Pete
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Researching:
- CA Butler and the loss of Lancaster ME334
- Aircrew Training WWII (Basic / Trade / Operational)
- No. 35 Squadron [From Thetford to Scampton]
[Always looking for COPIES of original documents / photographs etc relating to these subjects]
Andrea, You could e-mail a guy called Howard Sandall through the Mildenhall Register. He is the 622 Sqn Historian and has recently published a book about 622. Reach him through http://www.mildenhallregister.stirlingpilot.org.uk/Milden2.htm
I am the 622 sqdn historian and very interested to hear about your grandad. According to my records nobody by the name of Hayward was a pilot with 622 sqdn. Can you let me have some more details so that I can look further into his time on the squadron. Perhaps he was aircrew but not a pilot?
Thank you so much for taking time to replying to my message,
I got the info from my uncle and auntie (his children) And don't have too much else to go by, I know on his discharge papers he was down as Air Flight Lieutenant Hayward and i have his personal no thats on the papers if it would help? I remember them saying he first flew Wellingtons then Lancasters. Dusseldorf and Dresden were mentioned as was the clean up missions afterwards that he did. As I'm not next of kin, it's proving a little difficult to gain certain info, so I'm carefully asking my auntie who also has all grandads letters that were sent to my grandmother. My father Jonathon Kenneth Hayward was born in 1940 in Barnet if that helps, and was the first child. Unfortunately dad passed away 16 years ago so anything he knew he took with him.. Any other info I get I'll pass straight to you.
Kindest regards,
Andrea
Is there anyway the next of kin can apply for his RAF service records, that would confirm exactly where he trained and on what squadrons he served. Can I ask you how why you believe he served on 622 Sqdn?
As you suggest his personal letters may reveal some more information, in the mean time I will search through the Sqdn ORB's to see if I can find his name. If I can help with any of the letters or documents then just ask. My personal email can be obtained by goiung on the Mildenhall Register web site and following the 622 Sqdn link. It may be better to communicate this way?
