Ceremonial Sword of Lieutenant Michael Leonard Hayes Royal Navy.
He was born at Beeston, Nottingham on the 18th August 1931. He joined the Fleet Air Arm as a midshipman aged 17 and was later selected for Officer training. In 1950 he started flight training and at the end of July 1951 was awarded the flying badge. He was involved in the Korean War dropping bombs. On one of his missions his plane was hit by flak behind enemy lines while flying his Sea Fury Fb11, WH582. He sent a distress call and three minuets after ditching in the sea a U.S.A.F. Sikorsky S-55 hovered above him, dropped a line to haul him up to safety. On the 23rd January 1956 he was killed. He was flying in a Meteor Mk 7 of 728 Squadron. During the flight he had been acting as a target aircraft for H.M.S. Ark Royal and reported that his aircraft was low on fuel. He decided to return to base but he ditched a mile off Hal Far, Malta. No trace was ever found of the pilot and machine.
The ceremonial sword was a 21st birthday present from his father, Colonel Leonard Hayes, Royal Signals.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificates, 1910-1950, Ancestry. He received his certificate on the 31st May 1951 after training on a Harvard at RAF Syerston. He was living at "Westbury", 11 Broadgate Avenue, Beeston.
He is commemorated on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire. He was born on the 18th August 1931 and died on the 23rd January 1956 aged 24. He was on ship, HMS Falcon.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
He lived at 126 Howard Street, Malta and 11 Broadgate Avenue, Beeston, Nottinghamshire. His effects went Concetta Maria Hayes, widow.
