Men of the Battle of Britain

Supplementary Volume

Kenneth G. Wynn

• Editorial: Frontline Books
• Año: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781526785282
• Categoría: History
• Categoría: World War II

"Tells about various details of data, squadrons, training, life path, passport photos and more. This supplement contains addition for about 350(!) airmen." — Aviation Book Reviews Since it was first published in 1989, Men of the Battle of Britain, the complete third edition of which was published in 2015, has become a standard reference book for academics and researchers interested in the Battle of Britain. This remarkable publication records the service details of every airman who took part in the Battle of Britain, and who earned the Battle of Britain Clasp, in considerable detail. Where known, an individual's various postings and their dates are included, as are promotions, decorations, and successes claimed while flying against the enemy. There is also much personal detail, often including dates and places of birth, civilian occupations, dates of death and place of burial or, for those with no known grave, place of commemoration. There are many wartime head-and-shoulders photographs. Inevitably, the passage of time ensures that there is a constant reevaluation of the wealth of information contained within Men of the Battle of Britain. At the same time, since the 2015 edition it has been possible to expand many individual entries, some 330 in total, to give some idea of the wider social context around the aircrew who earned the Battle of Britain Clasp. This has been achieved by reference to existing sources, including information supplied by The Few themselves and their relatives over many years, as well as new research. This invaluable supplement to the 2015 edition ensures that these additions and revisions are available to all researchers, historians, enthusiasts and general readers.

A

Hubert Hastings ADAIR

580088 Sgt Pilot British 151 and 213 Squadrons

Adair was born on August 13 1917 at Carrickaslane, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, Ireland. His father was a farmer. H H Adair entered the RAF as a direct-entry Airman u/t Pilot in 1936.

He reported for elementary flying training on January 6 and, after successfully completing the course, he was sent to No 1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge on March 2 1936 for formal enlistment.

Adair went to 3 FTS, South Cerney on March 16 for No 17 Course, which he completed on December 17 1936, passing out as a Sergeant-Pilot. He joined 35 Squadron at Worthy Down on the 20th, to fly Fairey Gordons.

On September 25 1939 Adair joined 88 Squadron, equipped with Fairey Battles and then based at Mourmelon in France, with the AASF. The squadron returned to England in mid-June 1940 and in August Adair volunteered for Fighter Command and was sent to Digby on September 4, to join 151 Squadron (Hurricanes). He was one of eight new pilots to arrive that day, including a new CO, Squadron Leader H West.

Adair moved to 213 Squadron (Hurricanes) at Tangmere on the 16th. After being involved in a night landing accident on November 5, “Paddy” Adair was back in action again the following afternoon but did not return from combat over the Southampton area.

Adair is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 11.

It is now believed that Hurricane, V7602, which crashed at Pigeon House Farm, Widley, Hampshire, was Adair’s. It was excavated on October 6 1979 and the pilot’s remains were found. They were later sent to the Portchester Crematorium for ‘disposal’.

This aircraft was almost certainly shot down by Major Helmut Wick of JG2.

A memorial stone now stands close to the Pigeon House Farm crash site, with a plaque containing the words, “Sgt. H.H. Adair in Hurricane AK-D-V7602 crashed near here on the 6/11/40 whilst defending Portsmouth. He fought against superior odds and lost his young life so that future generations could enjoy theirs.”

Raymond Charles Andre AEBERHARDT

42781 PO Pilot British 19 Squadron

Aeberhardt was born on October 22 1920 in Hampstead, London, where the family lived. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his elementary flying course on August 14 1939, as a pupil pilot. He moved on to 6 FTS, Little Rissington on November 6, on No 16 Course.

On May 10 1940 Aeberhardt arrived at 10 B&GS, Warmwell, with the Advanced Training Squadron of 6 FTS for armament training.

He completed the course on May 17 and then moved to 5 OTU, Aston Down on the 18th. He converted to Spitfires and joined 19 Squadron at Duxford on June 9.

On August 31 1940 the squadron intercepted an enemy force attacking Debden. In the ensuing combat, Aeberhardt’s Spitfire, R 6912, was hit and the glycol system damaged. He returned to Fowlmere and attempted a landing without flaps, which were not working. The aircraft went over on to its back and caught fire. Aeberhardt was killed.

He is buried in Whittlesford (SS Mary and Andrew) churchyard, Cambridgeshire.

On Monday September 1 1941, his family marked the first anniversary of his death with a notice in The Daily Telegraph which read, “Aeberhardt - In ever-loving memory of Ray, only son and brother, Pilot Officer R.C.A. Aeberhardt, killed in action Aug 31 1940. Your courage and gallantry cost you your life, but you are always with us, and we will remember you with pride as we last saw you.”

On August 31 1945 the family placed another notice in the same paper, “Aeberhardt, Pilot Officer Raymond, Fighter Squadron 19. - Always in our memory as one of the few who gave their lives during the Battle of Britain that ultimate victory might be achieved.”

APO 23.10.39 PO 18.5.40

(Updated: November 2018)

Edward Ariss ALEXANDER

88648 Sgt Pilot British 236 Squadron

Alexander, of Hove, Sussex, was born on January 6 1919 and attended Brighton Grammar School from 1930. He joined the RAFVR as an Airman u/t Pilot in May 1938 and carried out his flying training at 16 ERFTS Shoreham. He may have been one of the group of 50 RAFVR pilots who were attached to the RAF for six months of continuous training at 2 FTS, Brize Norton on July 15 1939.

He was posted from 2 FTS, Brize Norton to 236 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on December 16 1939. He was still with 236 in July 1940 and served with it throughout the Battle of Britain.

Alexander was commissioned in November 1940. He was killed on February 25 1941, aged 22 and still with 236. He was flying a Blenheim on patrol from St Eval which was attacked and shot down by a Bf109. The Blenheim fell into the sea and Sergeant E K Lindsay and Sergeant B M Mansfield were also lost.

Alexander is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 31.

PO 27.11.40

(Updated: November 2017)

John William Edward ALEXANDER

42178 PO Pilot British 151 Squadron

Alexander was born on January 28 1915 in Newcastle upon Tyne. He Joined the RAF on a short service commission and began as a pupil pilot on May 1 1939 at 13 E&RFTS, White Waltham. He moved on to 10 FTS, Ternhill on July 10, on No 12 Course, and completed his training on December 9 1939.

Alexander arrived at 11 Group Pool, St Athan on December 28 and went to 2 Ferry Pilot Pool on January 26 1940. He was posted to No 1 Air Armament School at Manby on March 2, as a staff pilot. He went to 7 OTU, Hawarden on June 17, converted to Hurricanes and then joined 151 Squadron at North Weald on July 1 1940.

Flying from North Weald on August 28, Alexander’s aircraft was set alight in a combat over the Thames Estuary and he baled out, badly burned. The burning Hurricane, L 2005, crashed into a bungalow at Millthorpe, Godmersham at 4.30 pm. Alexander was admitted to hospital and was later transferred to the RAF Hospital at Halton.

He returned to 151 Squadron, then at Digby, on November 21 and then seems to have been given two periods of sick leave before finally rejoining 151 on December 27 1940.

Nothing further is known of Alexander’s service career but it would appear that he went on to the Reserve at the end of 1942 and was released from the RAF in 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He died on June 9 1993, aged 78, at 2 Lesbury Avenue, Stakeford, Choppington, Northumberland.

APO 24.6.39 PO 27.12.39 FO 27.12.40 FL 27.12.41 FL (RAFO) 1.1.43

(Updated: January 2018)

John Laurance ALLEN

70008 PO Pilot British 54 Squadron

Allen was born on July 3 1916 in the Mission Hospital at Kijabe, outside Nairobi in what was then British East Africa and is now Kenya.

His Canadian father, Kenneth Watson Allen, was a Medical Missionary. His mother, Ruth Ellis Allen (nee Schneider), was American. J L Allen came to the UK at an unknown date and studied at Battersea Polytechnic in London.

Allen began his elementary flying training on May 31 1937, as a civilian. Commissioned for five years in Class ‘A’ of the RAFO, he reported to No1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge on August 9 1937, as an Acting Pilot Officer.

He went to 8 FTS, Montrose on August 21.Whilst on a training flight on January 18 1938 he disappeared in fog over Forfarshire. Early next morning an RAF search plane spotted wreckage on Glen Dye Moor, Kincardineshire. Beside the wreck was a rescue party, laying down and spelling out the word ALIVE. An ambulance aircraft picked up Allen, badly injured.

After a long stay in hospital, he finished his training and went on to the Reserve on September 18 1938. Allen applied for a short service commission and was granted one on December 5 1938. On this day he relinquished his RAFO commission and joined 54 Squadron at Hornchurch.

Allen was still with 54 in 1940. On May 21, between Dunkirk and Calais, Allen probably destroyed a Ju88, 54 Squadron’s first victory. Two days later he and Pilot Officer A C Deere escorted Flight Lieutenant J A Leathart, flying a Master, to Calais Marck airfield to pick up the CO of 74 Squadron, Squadron Leader F L White, who was stranded there. Twelve Bf109s attacked the Master but were engaged by Allen and Deere who, between them, shot three down and badly damaged three, of which Allen destroyed one and damaged two others.

On May 24 Allen shot down a Bf109 in the Calais area, on the 25th he destroyed two Bf110s and on the morning of the 26th another Bf110 and probably a second. In this engagement his engine was hit by a cannon shell, he baled out over the Channel and was picked up by a corvette.

Allen returned to his squadron later the same evening, dressed in a naval lieutenant’s uniform and carrying a kitbag. On the 27th he shared in the destruction of a Ju88 over the Dunkirk beach area.

He was awarded the DFC (11.6.40) and received it from the King in a ceremony at Hornchurch on June 27, in company with Leathart and Deere, who were awarded the DSO and DFC respectively.

Allen destroyed a Ju88 on June 17 and shared in destroying a He59 and probably a Bf109 on July 9. His engine was damaged in combat with Bf109s over Margate on July 24. He stalled while trying to reach Manston. He was then seen making for Foreness in a controlled descent with a dead engine, which suddenly restarted, causing him to again make for Manston. The engine stopped again and, trying to turn for Foreness a second time, he stalled and spun in and was killed when his Spitfire, R6812, crashed and burned out near the Old Charles Inn at Cliftonville. Allen was 24. He is buried in Margate Cemetery, Kent.

APO (RAFO) 9.8.37 PO (RAFO) 18.9.38 PO 5.12.38 FO 5.7.40

(Updated: April 2019)

Charles Francis AMBROSE

42583 PO Pilot British 46 Squadron

Ambrose joined the RAF on a short-service commission and began his ab initio training on July 10 1939, as a pupil pilot. He completed his training and was posted to 12 Group Pool, at Aston Down on February 23 1940.

He converted to Hurricanes and joined 46 Squadron at Digby on April 1. Ambrose served in Norway with 46 in late May/early June and was evacuated by the Royal Navy...