Ystalyfera Fallen

This is the memorial page for James Douglas Jones, native of Ystalyfera, killed during the Second World War.

The information on James Douglas Jones comes principally from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from the Labour Voice newspaper, and the Parish Burial Register (courtesy of the Swansea Archives).

Below is a photograph of James Douglas Jones from the Llais newspaper:-

From the South Wales Voice newspaper, 2nd December 1944 came the news that Flying Office Douglas Jones had been reported missing:-

YSTALYFERA AIRMAN REPORTED MISSING

Deep sympathy will be felt with Mr and Mrs Tom Jones, Telephone Exchange, Wern Road, Ystalyfera, who, on Thursday received official notification that their son, Flying Officer Douglas Jones, RAF, was reported missing from operations over enemy territory. He was 22 years of age and was educated at the Ystalyfera County School. After joining the RAF he proceeded to Canada where he received his training and was awarded his wings 12 months ago.
Since then he has been engaged on night intruder operations, flying a Mosquito plane, over enemy territory. With him was Warrant Officer Pilot Len Mulhall [John Leonard] of Melbourne, Australia, who spent 3 of his leaves in company with Douglas at his home.
It will be recalled that a few months ago, after his last leave, he wrote a short note to the South Wales Voice expressing his appreciation and gratitude for the hospitality he had received and the kindly reception he had experienced at Ystalyfera

From the South Wales Voice newspaper, 25th August 1945 came the news that Flying Officer Douglas Jones was now officially presumed dead:-

YSTALYFERA AIRMAN PRESUMED DEAD

On V.J. Day, Mr and Mrs T J Jones, Telephone Exchange, Wern Road, Ystalyfera, received the sad news from the Air Ministry that their son, Flying Officer James Douglas Jones, had now officially been presumed dead.
Flying Officer James was reported missing last November after taking part in a defensive sortie over the North Sea. He was attached to an Australian Air Force unit, and with him in the missing plane was Warrant Officer Mulhall, Melbourne, Australia. Both were great friends and W/O Mulhall had paid many visits to Ystalyfera and had often expressed his appreciation of the locality.
F/O Jones joined the RAF in 1940 when he was seventeen and a half years old, as a boy apprentice in the accounts department, being an old pupil of the Ystalyfera County School. In 1941, he made an application to join an aircrew and was sent to Canada to be trained in navigation and radio-location.
In 1943 he returned from Canada as a sergeant pilot and shortly afterwards he was granted his commission as a pilot officer. Within a few months he was again promoted to the rank of Flying Officer and was attached to the Fighter Command of an Australian squadron.
F/O Jones served with distinction and his commanding officer paid high tribute to his high qualities and exemplary character.
We join with a great number of friends in extending our deepest sympathy to Mr and Mrs Jones in their great loss.

JAMES DOUGLAS JONES

The pilot was W/O John Leonard MULHALL (Australian) who was the uncle of Mr Chris O'Connor.
He contacted YEARGROUP and has given us permission to include his Uncles' details who as the newspaper reports was not only the pilot but a good friend of James Douglas Jones. Both men are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

Warrant Officer John Leonard MULHALL: Service Number 410361: Died 24/11/1944: aged 21 years Of the Royal Australian Air Force
Son of Harold Bruno and Ada Mildred MULHALL of Caulfield Victoria Australia

On 6/7 October Warrant Officer J MULHALL and F/O J JONES in HK317/Y destroyed a JU 188/