Ronnie Fokes

Ronald Henry Fokes
Nickname(s)	Ronnie
Born	1913 Rotherham, England
Died	12 June 1944 (aged 31) Caen, German-occupied France
Buried	Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1937–1944
Rank	Squadron Leader
Service number	88439
Unit	No. 92 Squadron RAF
Commands	No. 257 Squadron RAF
Battles / wars	Second World War Battle of Britain Italian Campaign Channel Front Western Allied invasion of France Normandy Campaign  †
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Medal

Ronald Henry "Ronnie" Fokes, DFC, DFM (1913 – 12 June 1944) was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War, credited with nine confirmed "kills".

RAF career

Fokes joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1937, and eventually joined No. 151 Squadron RAF in April 1939, moving to No. 87 Squadron RAF a few days later. After the outbreak of the Second World War he joined No. 92 Squadron RAF in January 1940. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in November 1940, and commissioned later the same month.

In May 1941 he was posted to No. 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Heston as an instructor and then to the Central Flying School, Upavon on an instructor's course. A spell at No. 61 OTU followed. In November 1941 he joined No. 154 Squadron as a flight commander. In March 1942 he joined No. 56 Squadron flying the Hawker Typhoon. In August he became a test pilot on Typhoons at Gloster Aircraft, until February 1943 when he returned to operations with No. 193 Squadron.

Fokes took command of No. 257 Squadron RAF flying the Hawker Typhoon in July 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in March 1944, and was due to end his tour just before D-Day, but elected to remain with the squadron until after the invasion. His aircraft was shot down over Caen, France during a ground attack mission. Fokes bailed out, but was killed when he hit the ground before his parachute opened.

List of air victories

Fokes' combat record reads: nine kills, four shared kills, two unconfirmed kills, three probable kills, one damaged and one shared damaged.

Victory No.	Date	Squadron	Enemy aircraft	Notes
1	2 June 1940	No. 92 Squadron	1 Heinkel He 111 (and two probables)
1.5	4 July 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Heinkel He 111 (shared)
2	10 September 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Dornier Do 17 (shared)
Damaged	15 September 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Dornier Do 17
Probable	24 September 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Junkers Ju 88
Probable	30 September 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109
3, 4 & 5	15 October 1940	No. 92 Squadron	2 Messerschmitt Me 109 & Heinkel He 111
6	26 October 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109
6.5	9 November 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Junkers Ju 88 (shared)
7.5	15 September 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109
Probable	17 November 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109
8.5	5 December 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109
9.5	21 December 1940	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109
Damaged	23 January 1941	No. 92 Squadron	Dornier Do 17
10	5 December 1941	No. 92 Squadron	Junkers Ju 88 (shared)
11	26 April 1941	No. 92 Squadron	Messerschmitt Me 109

Honours and awards

• 15 November 1940 – 740109 Sergeant Ronald Henry Fokes, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 92 Squadron is awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal:

In October, 1940, this airman was on patrol with his squadron at 30,000 feet, when a formation of more than twenty Messerschmitt 109s was sighted. Sergeant Fokes attacked one, and followed it down to the ground where it crashed. He has displayed great courage and tenacity and has personally destroyed at least six enemy aircraft.

— London Gazette

• 10 March 1944 – Acting Squadron Leader Ronald Henry Fokes, DFM (88439), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 257 Squadron is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross:

This officer has completed a very large number of sorties during which he has shot down at least 10 enemy aircraft. He is a fine leader and has invariably pressed home his attacks with skill and resolution.

— London Gazette

References

Bibliography

• Price, Dr. Alfred. Spitfire Mark I/II Aces 1939–1941. Botley, Kent, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-85532-627-2.
• Thomas, Andrew. Griffon Spitfire Aces. Botley, Kent, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84603-298-1.