Hawker Audax K-4396, 6 FTS, RAF Little Rissington, Gloucestershire: Written off (destroyed) 13/3/39 when crashed into the English Channel, off Chesil Beach, Dorset, when failed to pull out of a dive and hit the top of the beach before crashing into the sea 20 yards beyond the low tide mark. Pilot – Acting Pilot Officer … Read Article
Hawker Fury K-8271 Destroyed 10/12/38 when hit shore while recovering from dive on target. Crashed Off Chesil Bank, near Langton Herring, Dorset. Pilot: Corporal John Robert Daniel RAF (aged 22) killed (reportedly death by drowning). According to a contemporary newspaper report (“Western Daily Press” – Monday 12 December 1938) “BOMBER CRASHES IN SEA. Pilot Drowned … Read Article
Loss of Hawker Hurricane P3348 Hawker Hurricane P3348 pilot Philip Purchall Norris was born to William and Florence Beatrice Norris on 4th September 1917 in Burgess Hill, Sussex and went on to have five brothers and two sisters. He was educated at Brighton Grammar School and, like his brothers, belonged to the Congregational Church Youth … Read Article
13.08.1940 No 238 Squadron Hawker Hurricane P3177 Sgt. Henry ‘Tony’ Marsh Operation: Patrol Date: 13th August 1940 (Tuesday) Unit: No. 238 Squadron Type: Hurricane I Serial: P3177 Base: RAF Middle Wallop Location: English Channel off Portland Pilot: Sgt. ‘Tony’ Henry Anthony James Marsh 562584 RAF Age 27. Missing REASON FOR LOSS: During a patrol on … Read Article
Hawker Hurricane N2650 pilot Ronald Derek Gordon Wight was born in Skelmorlie, Ayrshire on 8th December 1915 and educated at Bowdon College, Cheshire, Mostyn High School in the Wirral and Wrekin College. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1934 and was posted to 5 FTS, Sealand on 3rd April. On … Read Article
Dear Sir, Please refer to your letter No.P.35324/40/P.4(B.4.) dated 2nd July 1945 regarding the grave of the late Flight-Sargeant DIXON. His Mother, Mrs. E.H.Dixon, who is my Mother-in-law, has asked me to make arrangements for her to visit France to see her son’s grave. In the above quoted letter you mentioned that he was buried … Read Article
Kenneth Barton Smith was born in Bromley on 29th May 1919 and educated in his early years at Tonbridge, Kent. He then went to Wintringham Grammar School in Grimsby, where his family was then living. In 1936 he moved to London and worked for an insurance company. He joined the RAFVR on 14th August 1939 … Read Article
Richard Stephen Demetriadi was born in Chelsea on 14th August 1918 and educated at Eton. He joined 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force in 1938. He was commissioned in July and called to full-time service on 25th August 1939. He was shot down into the Channel and killed on 11th August 1940 during a combat off … Read Article
Julian Langley Smithers was born in Knockholt, Kent on 17th December 1915 and was educated at Eton, where he became Captain of the House. 17 of the 47 house members would lose their lives in the coming war. He entered the City when he went to work in his father’s stockbroking firm, Ackroyd & Smithers, … Read Article
Samuel Leslie Butterfield was born in Leeds and educated at Watford Boys Grammar School. He joined the RAF as an apprentice in September 1929 and later progressed to pilot training. He was with 213 Squadron in early 1940. On May 17th the squadron was sent to Merville in France and took part in defensive patrols, … Read Article