Group Captain RH Young
Roland Hildyard Young
- Rank
- Wing Commander
- Later rank
- Group Captain
- Honours
- CBE DSO AFC
- Squadron
- No 464 Squadron
- Born
- 1910
- Fate
- Survived the war. Died 1994
- In the book
- Pages 80, 81
From the book
More than a “Few” South Africans
Roland Hildyard Young was born in Wales in 1910 and grew up in South Africa. He commissioned in 1932 and ten years later, Wing Commander RH Young AFC had completed a tour flying No 110 Squadron Blenheims. A posting as No 13 “OTU’s” Chief Instructor followed before commanding the newly formed Lockheed Ventura equipped No 464 Squadron RAAF based at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. His second tour of operations started with “Operation Oyster” on December 6th 1942 leading 47 Ventura’s in a 91 strong bomber force that carried out a low level attack on the Eindhoven Philips factory on a Sunday to minimize casualties. The first of that nature for Ventura crews was also the first operational sortie for most of those crews.
More than a “Few” South Africans
Thirteen airmen were decorated just over a month later. Three, including Wing Commander RH Young AFC were awarded the “Distinguished Service Order ”, one other Ventura crew member earned a “Distinguished Flying Cross”. Group Captain RH Young CBE DSO AFC had a short post war RAF career before retiring. He returned to South Africa in 1974 and died in Plettenberg Bay in 1994.