FSGT Ronald Oakley Sandell 411608

RAF Burial Return for Sergeant R.O. Sandell, 154 Squadron. Died 20 April 1943. Buried at Ras Rajel Military Cemetery, Tunisia. Identified by aircraft identification marks (Spitfire VC - ES170).

Ronald Oakley Sandell was born on the 30th of January 1921 at Goulburn, New South Wales, and enlisted in Sydney.

Sandell served with No. 154 Squadron RAF in North Africa during the Tunisian campaign.

411608 Flight Sergeant SANDELL, Ronald Oakley. Source: AWM 237 (65) NAA: A705, 163/37/77 Commonwealth War Graves records. Aircraft Type: Spitfire VC. Serial number: ES170. Unit: ATTD 154 SQN RAF. Summary: Spitfire ES170 which was flying as Yellow 2, took off from Victoria drome at Souk-el-Khemis on 29th April 1943, with seven other Spitfires of 154 Sqn, North West African Forces. The formation was detailed to patrol the Deja/Medjerda area. When in the vicinity of Cape Serret the engine of ES170 cut out at 23,000 feet, and the aircraft was on fire in the air. The pilot baled out but his chute became entangled in the mainplane and he was killed in the crash. Crew: EAAF 411608 Flt Sgt R O Sandell, (Pilot). Flt Sgt Sandell is buried in the Tabarka Ras Rajel War Cemetery, Tunisia. Tabarka is a coastal town on the Tunisian/Algerian border. The Cemetery is 12kms east of the town on Route P7 to Tunis (and Beja).

R.I.P.