In Memory Of

EVERT, RONALD RICHARD

Service Details
Age:
 21
Date of Birth:
 1922-07-20
Service No:
 328995V
Rank:
 Warrant Officer
Unit:
 24 Sqdn.
Regiment:
 South African Air Force
Date of Death:
 1944-02-21
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, crashed in sea, presumed due to icing, in Martin B-26 Marauder Mk II #FB453
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Column 284.
Cemetery:
 ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Country:
 Egypt
Additional Information
Husband of Joan M. Evert, of Milnerton, Cape Province, South Africa. Born in Windhoek, South West Africa on 20 July 1922. A clerk by occupation, he enlisted into the 2nd Natal Mounted Regiment on 7 May 1940. He served in East Africa with the 1st Royal Natal Carbineers but was discharged on 9 December 1941 as medically unfit due to malaria. He re-enlisted into the South African Air Force on 21 March 1942 and married Joan Marguerite van der Spuy on 4 April 1942. Evert received authority to wear the S.A.A.F. Air-Gunners badge on 21 January 1943. In October 1943 he was posted to No.24 Squadron S.A.A.F. as an Air Gunner flying in B-26 Marauders medium bombers. On 21 February 1944, six Marauders led by Captain A. F. Shuttleworth were sent to attack a ship in Suda Bay, Crete. His aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant A. M. Shepherd was forced to turn back due to severe icing of the aircraft. Shortly afterwards the plane was seen burning in the sea. The crew of seven including Evert, aged 21 years, were killed.