Ronald Frank Lander was born in New Plymouth on 31 January 1921, the son of Arthur and Ada (nee Spurdle) Lander. He was educated at New Plymouth Boy’s High School before working as a teller for the Commercial Bank of Australia.
He joined the RNZAF in March 1941 and began his training. The following year he was promoted to Sergeant and sent to England for further training before being posted to 104 Squadron at Kabrit, Egypt in June 1942.
Later in the month he was Second Pilot of a Wellington aircraft which took off on a bombing strike but crashed shortly after leaving Kabrit Aerodrome, killing all on board except for one crew member. The accident, which occurred on 28 June 1942 was thought to have been caused by the failure of an engine due to a leak and then an uncontrollable dive subsequent to releasing the bombs at low altitude.
Ronald Lander is buried in the Fayid War Cemetery, Egypt. He was 21.
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