Ernest Russell Lyon

Who was Ernest Russell Lyon?

Ernest Russell Lyon was a Flying Officer in 234 Squadron of the Royal Air Force during part of World War 2. He was known as Russell. Volunteering to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve just three months after his 18th birthday he undertook pilot training in the USA, after which he became a pilot instructor in the USA and Canada. He later asked to be posted to an operational squadron and was posted to RAF 234 Squadron, joining them in autumn 1943, where he acquired the nickname "Ben" after the American TV and radio personality Ben Lyon. Russell undertook a variety of missions with the Squadron, flying from various airfields in the UK. At the time of D-Day the Squadron was based at RAF Deanland. Soon afterwards 234 Squadron was moved to RAF Predannack, on the Lizard Peninsula, where they flew further missions over northern and western France. At 19.00hrs on the evening of Thursday 27 July 1944 Russell piloted Supermarine Spitfire MkVb AR343, flying with seven other Spitfires, on a mission over Lorient in southern Brittany. At about 19.54 hrs. his Spitfire was hit by flak at 6000 ft. over the Lorient area and was seen to crash in flames near Ploemeur.