Derek Harland Ward
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Derek Harland Ward, DFC & Bar
, was a New Zealand
flying ace
during the Second World War. He was credited with six kills, one shared destroyed, one probable and four damaged against the Luftwaffe
. Ward was shot down and killed by the German ace Hans-Joachim Marseille
on 17 June 1942. Among his notable victories was a Focke-Wulf 200 "Condor", destroyed on 1 May 1942.
A doctor's son, Ward was born in Whangarei
on 31 July 1917. After obtaining his pilot’s licence in April 1937 he joined the RNZAF and after training sailed to Britain in April 1938 to serve with the RAF. On 1 June 1937 Ward was granted a short service commission as a Pilot Officer
.
In mid-June 1938 he was posted to No. 151 Squadron, a unit which saw no action in the early part of the war.
Followng the start of the German blitzkrieg in May 1940 Ward and five other pilots delivered new Hurricanes to No. 87 Squadron in France. Following high casualties Ward and the other pilots remained with 87 Squadron, flying on operations. On 18 May Ward destroyed a Henschel 126 and the next day damaged a Do 17.
On 20 May any aircraft still serviceable with the Squadron were ordered back to the UK.Ward took a Hurricane with no gunsight and few working instruments. Attempting to land in northern France to refuel, he saw fires in the town nearby as two Dorniers were making a bombing attack on the aerodrome. Atttaking, he scoring hits on one and chased off the other.
Ward was then attacked by Bf 109’s, and managed to land. After refuelling he took off and low over the Channel ran into more Bf 109’s. Ward dived to low level and reached Debden
safely.
During the Battle of Britain No. 87 Squadron was heavily engaged in the South West and on the Southern coast approaches. On 15 August 1940 Ward claimed a Bf 110 destroyed. In winter of 1940 the Squadron continued night patrols and intruder attacks against airfields in France. He was awarded the DFC in October 1941.
Ward was posted overseas in September 1941 and took command of No. 73 Squadron in Egypt on night defence duties. Ward commanded a detached Flight operating in the Western Desert with ’Whitforce’. Flying bomber-escorts, offensive sweeps and attacks on enemy airfields, on 8 December 1941 he destroyed a Ju 88.
By early 1942 Ward was often flying several sorties a day. He destroyed an He 111 on 9 February and probably a Bf 109 four days later. On 1 May 1942, while strafing Barce airfield at night, Ward saw a four-engined aircraft - probably a FW 200 Condor- and shot it down in flames. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC for this action.
In early June 1942 the Squadron returned to day operations.
s from Jagdgeschwader 27
. Two Hawker Hurricanes were shot down and their pilots bailed out. Most of the Squadron had not noticed this and landed, but according to Allied reports, Ward returned to protect the pilots in their parachutes only to be shot down and killed.
According to the German report of the action:
His fellow pilots encouraged Marseille to continue for another kill, to achieve his 100th kill.
One of these last three kills was Ward.
Squadron Leader Derek Harland Ward DFC RAF of No. 73 Squadron RAF
is buried at Plot 1 C 10 at the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Derek Harland Ward, DFC & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during the Second World War. He was credited with six kills, one shared destroyed, one probable and four damaged against the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. Ward was shot down and killed by the German ace Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his bohemian lifestyle. One of the best fighter pilots of World War II, he was nicknamed the "Star of Africa"...
on 17 June 1942. Among his notable victories was a Focke-Wulf 200 "Condor", destroyed on 1 May 1942.
A doctor's son, Ward was born in Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
on 31 July 1917. After obtaining his pilot’s licence in April 1937 he joined the RNZAF and after training sailed to Britain in April 1938 to serve with the RAF. On 1 June 1937 Ward was granted a short service commission as a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
.
In mid-June 1938 he was posted to No. 151 Squadron, a unit which saw no action in the early part of the war.
Followng the start of the German blitzkrieg in May 1940 Ward and five other pilots delivered new Hurricanes to No. 87 Squadron in France. Following high casualties Ward and the other pilots remained with 87 Squadron, flying on operations. On 18 May Ward destroyed a Henschel 126 and the next day damaged a Do 17.
On 20 May any aircraft still serviceable with the Squadron were ordered back to the UK.Ward took a Hurricane with no gunsight and few working instruments. Attempting to land in northern France to refuel, he saw fires in the town nearby as two Dorniers were making a bombing attack on the aerodrome. Atttaking, he scoring hits on one and chased off the other.
Ward was then attacked by Bf 109’s, and managed to land. After refuelling he took off and low over the Channel ran into more Bf 109’s. Ward dived to low level and reached Debden
Debden
Debden could mean:* Debden, Epping Forest, England** Debden House, adult education college** Debden tube station* Debden, Uttlesford, England** RAF Debden* Debden, Saskatchewan, Canada...
safely.
During the Battle of Britain No. 87 Squadron was heavily engaged in the South West and on the Southern coast approaches. On 15 August 1940 Ward claimed a Bf 110 destroyed. In winter of 1940 the Squadron continued night patrols and intruder attacks against airfields in France. He was awarded the DFC in October 1941.
Ward was posted overseas in September 1941 and took command of No. 73 Squadron in Egypt on night defence duties. Ward commanded a detached Flight operating in the Western Desert with ’Whitforce’. Flying bomber-escorts, offensive sweeps and attacks on enemy airfields, on 8 December 1941 he destroyed a Ju 88.
By early 1942 Ward was often flying several sorties a day. He destroyed an He 111 on 9 February and probably a Bf 109 four days later. On 1 May 1942, while strafing Barce airfield at night, Ward saw a four-engined aircraft - probably a FW 200 Condor- and shot it down in flames. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC for this action.
In early June 1942 the Squadron returned to day operations.
Last battle
Around midday on 17 June 1942, Ward's Squadron was returning to base, very low on fuel,when they were attacked by Messerschmitt Bf 109Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
s from Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
. Two Hawker Hurricanes were shot down and their pilots bailed out. Most of the Squadron had not noticed this and landed, but according to Allied reports, Ward returned to protect the pilots in their parachutes only to be shot down and killed.
According to the German report of the action:
Around midday four Bf 109s ran into ten Hurricanes and approximately 20 Curtiss planes in the air between Gambut and Ras Azeiz. OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Marseille was the first to dive into a thick crowd of enemy fighters and shot one of them down on his first pass. As he was breaking to shake an enemy off his tail, another plane flitted across his gunsight. Marseille fired immediately and this opponent,too, fell burning. He then sighted four fighters flying in a defensive circle protecting their fellow pilot[s] in the chute harness. Marseille shot down two more out of the Lufbery circle.
His fellow pilots encouraged Marseille to continue for another kill, to achieve his 100th kill.
"Jochen" pounced down upon an enemy aircraft just taking off from Gambut which had only reached an altitude of 100 metres.
One of these last three kills was Ward.
Squadron Leader Derek Harland Ward DFC RAF of No. 73 Squadron RAF
No. 73 Squadron RAF
-World War I:It was initially a unit of the Royal Flying Corps and was formed out of the Central Flying School, based at Upavon, Wiltshire. Eight days after, the new unit moved to Lilbourne, near Rugby....
is buried at Plot 1 C 10 at the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt