Medals and original painting of the crash of HR864/LQ-M have been mounted and are on display in 405 Squadron
Ronald T. Moyes February 11, 1926
January 4, 2025
Taken at the RCAF 100 Gala Ron is shown here with four former 405 Squadron Commanding Officers.
It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Ron Moyes, RCAF Veteran of WWIl Bomber Command, who passed away on January 4, 2025, at the Perley Health Centre, in his 99th year. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia on February 11, 1926. He was the son of the late Walter and Elizabeth Moyes (nee Durrant). He is together again with his beloved wife of 72 years, Margaret (Winters), who passed away in February 2020. Ron was predeceased by his brothers Horace (Lois), Ralph and by his sister Vera (Ted). He is survived by his children Robert and Debbie (Douglas) and by his brother Gordon (Edith) of Calgary, Alberta. Dearly remembered by nieces, nephews, extended family and numerous friends. Ron will also be missed by his good friend, May Robinson of Penticton, BC. Ron’s loyal & furry friend, Tiffany, will always remember him as a kind and caring soul and provider of great treats.
Although born in Vancouver, his family moved to a small farm in Coquitlam, British Columbia when he was three. At the age of seventeen, Ron joined the RCAF. The year was 1943. He was trained as an Air Gunner and transferred to the United Kingdom in the spring of 1944. Ron was crewed up with five others and after a few months of training, they were transferred to 429 Squadron in Yorkshire. The crew flew fifteen Operations there, then transferred to the elite 405 Pathfinder Squadron in Bedfordshire, where they completed another fifteen missions, completing their tour of duty. Ron was a tail gunner on the Halifax and Lancaster aircraft, where survival rates were very low. As the war ended in Europe, the crew volunteered to go with the Squadron to the Pacific Theatre. They flew back to Canada, but the Pacific war ended. The crew was discharged in the fall of 1945 and remained good friends for life.
Ron returned to the RCAF in 1946 and trained for one year as an Armorer near Trenton, Ontario. On March 1, 1947, Ron met Margaret Winters of Belleville, Ontario. The two were married on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 1948. They later had two children, Robert and Debbie.
Ron, Marg and the children travelled extensively in Europe and the United Kingdom while stationed for four years in Zweibrucken, Germany (3 Wing) with the RCAF (1962 to 1966). Upon returning to Canada, Ron was transferred to Canadian Forces HQ in Ottawa. The family continued with their travels across Canada and through the United States.
Ron took his discharge from the RCAF in December 1974 and the next day was sworn in as a Civilian Member to the RCMP Crime Detection Laboratory in Ottawa, specifically the Firearms Section.
Ron fully retired in 1989 after 46 years service. During his retirement, Ron volunteered as a speaker with the Memory Project, an initiative of Historica Canada for veterans to share their stories. Ron shared his experience in Bomber Command with children at schools, seniors in Retirement Homes and at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
On June 28th, 2012, Ron attended, with fellow veterans from Bomber Command, the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in London, England. It was an experience that he never forgot.
We would like to thank Veteran’s Affairs Canada for all they have done to support our father and the RCAF for including him in so many functions to celebrate their 100th Anniversary.
We would also like to thank the staff at Perley Health for their amazing care and support before and after our dad’s passing. It truly is a wonderful community.
Friends and family are invited to pay respects at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. in Ottawa Ontario on Tuesday January 14th, 2025, from 11am to 1pm. A Funeral will be held in the Sacred Space at 1pm followed by an interment and reception.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Ronald Moyes to the Perley Health Foundation.
The crest of 405 Long Range Patrol Squadron depicts an eagle's head facing to the sinister and holding in the beak a sprig of maple. Its motto refers to the fact that this was the first and only Royal Canadian Air Force Pathfinder squadron. The eagle's head which faces the sinister suggests leadership, is derived from the pathfinder badge