Ronnie Fokes


Ronald Henry "Ronnie" Fokes, 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 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.DateSquadronEnemy aircraftNotes
12 June 1940No. 92 Squadron1 Heinkel He 111
1.54 July 1940No. 92 SquadronHeinkel He 111
210 September 1940No. 92 SquadronDornier Do 17
Damaged15 September 1940No. 92 SquadronDornier Do 17
Probable24 September 1940No. 92 SquadronJunkers Ju 88
Probable30 September 1940No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109
3, 4 & 515 October 1940No. 92 Squadron2 Messerschmitt Me 109 & Heinkel He 111
626 October 1940No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109
6.59 November 1940No. 92 SquadronJunkers Ju 88
7.515 September 1940No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109
Probable17 November 1940No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109
8.55 December 1940No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109
9.521 December 1940No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109
Damaged23 January 1941No. 92 SquadronDornier Do 17
105 December 1941No. 92 SquadronJunkers Ju 88
1126 April 1941No. 92 SquadronMesserschmitt Me 109

Honours and awards