Squadron Leader Percival Beake
DFC
Joining the RAFVR in April 1939, Percival Beake was mobilised
at the outbreak of war. Posted to 64 Squadron on Spitfires in
the Summer of 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain, he
flew with them until June 1941 when he was posted to 92 Squadron
at Biggin Hill, and then 601 Squadron at Duxford. After a spell
instructing he returned for his second tour in December 1942,
joing 193 Squadron as a Flight Commander. In May 1944 he took
command of 164 Squadron at Thorney Island flying Typhoons, moving
to France shortly after the Normandy invasion. With two victories
to his credit he was awarded the DFC in September 1944. Following
the Battle of Normandy, 164 Squadron moved forward through Northern
France and Belgium in support of the 21st Army Group. |
|
|
Warrant Officer Doug Oram
Doug Oram joined the RAF in 1942 and went to the USA to train.
In 1944 he joined 174 Typhoon Squadron at Westhampnett, and spent
a year on operations serving throughout occupied Europe. He left
the RAF in 1946, but rejoined in 1947 and retired in 1967. |
|
|
Flight Lieutenant Sir John Atkinson
KCB DFC
John Atkinson joined the RAF in 1938, training as a pilot.
In 1940 he was posted first to 234 Squadron on Spitfires, and
then 609 Squadron. In 1942 the Squadron converted to Typhoons,
launching fighter operations over France. Awarded the DFC after
his tour ended he went on to become a flying instructor until
the war was over. He was knighted in 1979. |
|
|
Flying Officer Kenneth ‘Junior’
Kneen
Training overseas, on arriving back in the UK Ken was posted
to Holland joining 175 Squadron flying Typhoons. The squadron
at this time being heavily engaged in low-level bombing strikes
against rail and armoured targets along the Dutch-German border.
He remained with the squadron until the end of the war, then
joined the RAFVR. |
|
|
Air Commodore D.C. Kit North-Lewis
DSO DFC
Joining the Army, 'Kit' North-Lewis transferred to the RAF
in 1940. In August 1941 he was posted to 13 Squadron flying Blenheims,
and then to 26 Squadron on P-51 Mustangs. In February 1944 he
joined 182 Squadron as a Flight Commander on Typhoons. A few
months later he was posted to command 181 Squadron, which he
led into France after D-Day as part of
124 Typhoon Wing. In August 1944 he was promoted to Wing Leader
of 124 Wing, which he commanded until the end of the war. |
|
|
Warrant Officer Jack Hodges DFC
Jack Hodges joined the RAF in late 1940, and after completing
his pilot training in Canada he returned to England and was briefly
sent to a photo reconnaissance unit flying Spitfires. He moved
to an OTU in Scotland on Hurricanes before finally moving to
a holding unit in Redhill, flying Typhoons. In 1944 he was posted
to join 175 Squadron. Shortly after, he moved to 174 Squadron
at Westhampnett. He served on operations throughout occupied
Europe until the end of the war, being awarded the DFC in 1945
for successfully leading a group of Typhoons against a German
Armoured Division. |
|
|
Warrant Officer John 'Abe' Lincoln
Born in 1923, 'Abe' Linoln joined the RAF in August 1942,
spending two years training in India and Rhodesia. After training
he was posted back to the UK, flying first Spitfires then on
Typhoons with 175 Squadron. The squadron was by then heavily
envolved with softening up targets with rockets ahead of the
army's advance, and close support duties as the Allies advanced
through France into Germany. He remained with the squadron until
the end of the war. |
|
|
Squadron Leader Basil 'Stapme'
Stapleton DFC
'Stapme' was flying Spitfires with 603 Squadron at the outbreak
of war, and flew with them throughout the Battle of Britain,
becoming an Ace with seven victories. In 1942 he flew Hurricanes
for the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit on Atlantic convoys, before
joining 257 Squadron as Flight Commander on Typhoons. In August
1944 he was given command of the squadron , taking part in operations
around Arnhem. In December 1944 he was shot down while attacking
a train, and taken prisoner. |
|
|
Pilot Officer 'Rusty' Townsend
Australian 'Rusty' Townsend joined the RAF in 1941, trained
in the USA before returning to join 175 Squadron on rocket-firing
Typhoons at Warmwell. Being in the thick of the action over France
against retreating German forces, he was shot down and taken
prisoner. |
|
|
Flying Officer Frank Wheeler
DFC
Posted to join 174 Typhoon Squadron at Westhampnett, Frank's
first operation was as part of the escort for Mosquitos taking
part in Operation Jericho, the Amiens jailbreak. He took
part in the operations around the Falaise Gap, and flew with
the squadron until the end of the war, by which time he had completed
1,123 ops. and had been awarded the DFC. |