In Memory Of

HILL, MICHAEL ROWLAND

Service Details
Age:
26
Date of Birth:
1918-04-28
Service No:
72467
Rank:
Squadron Leader
Unit:
19 Sqdn.
Regiment:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death:
1945-03-12
Cause of Death:
Killed in action, Mustang III KH444, escorting 44 Mosquitos of the Banff Strike Wing on a shipping sweep in the Skagerrak area. They were passing Lista to the south when they were bounced by a least 12 Me109's. Hill was seen to go into the sea
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
Panel 265.
Cemetery:
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Localitly:
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Additional Information
Born Modder Deep gold mine, Transvaal, South Africa. Educated at Leys School and Trinity College, Cambridge where he read History. A member of the University Air Squadron and was commissioned in the RAFVR in October 1938. Called up on 1st September 1939, Hill completed his training and arrived at 7 OTU Hawarden in early September 1940 to convert to Spitfires. On the 21st his Spitfire I R6917 crashed on takeoff but Hill escaped unhurt and was able to join 266 Squadron at Wittering on the 28th. His subsequent service is currently unknown but by early 1945 he was serving with 19 Squadron as a Squadron Leader. "One of the few" Battle of Britain pilot. Native of South Africa. On Hermanus War Memorial