The signatories
Flying Officer Harold Corbin CGM.
Harold Corbin joined the RAF in November 1940 and was sent to
the United States to train as a pilot. On completion he returned
to England as a Sergeant and after several positions was posted
to 235 Squadron at RAF Portreath flying operations on Beaufighters.
He completed many missions attacking various ports and enemy
shipping on the French coast and in the Bay of Biscay. In 1944
he converted onto Mosquitos and joined 248 Squadron at RAF Banff,
part of the Banff Strike Wing. The Banff Wing was to become immortalised
for undertaking some of the most dangerous and concentrated attacks
on German Surface vessels and U-Boats in the North Sea and Norwegian
coastline. Harold was awarded the CGM in August 1944, and was
given a full commission in December 1944.
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Warrant Officer Les Doughty DFM.
Joining the RAF in 1939 as a driver, Les Doughty was posted overseas
to serve in Iraq. In 1941 he applied for, and was accepted, to
be a pilot and went on to train in Rhodesia. In 1943 his first
operational posting was to 248 Squadron flying
Beaufighters from RAF Predannack, providing fighter escorts and
coastal patrols, with combat strikes mostly against
enemy shipping. He moved with 248 Squadron to RAF Portreath and
converted to Mosquitos. In early 1944 during a strike mission,
he attacked submarine U-155 whilst under heavy fire as it was
entering the French harbour of Lorient.
The submarine was put out of action for the duration of the war,
and Les was awarded an immediate DFM.
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Flight Lieutenant Herbert ‘Bert’ Graham
‘Bert’ Graham joined the RAF in 1941 and was immediately
posted to a pilot training station in Torquay, Devon. After passing
his final exams he then went on to fly Tiger Moths, before being
posted to RAF Brize Norton flying Oxfords.
In 1942 Bert transferred to 143 Squadron flying Blenheims, but
quickly moved onto the Beaufighters with the North Coates Strike
Wing. For his second tour Bert was posted to Scotland flying
Mosquitos, where, before the end of hostilities he completed
many port and shipping strikes over Norway and occupied Europe.
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Flight Lieutenant Ray Harington
Ray Harrington joined the RAF in 1941 and
completed his pilot training in South Africa. In January 1944
he was posted to 603 Squadron flying Beaufighters, based at Gambut,
near Tobruk. From here they launched attacks right across the
Mediterranean into Crete, Greece and the Aegean Islands against
shipping, harbour installations and enemy aircraft with
much success. In December 1944 he was posted to 235 Squadron
at RAF Banff and converted to the Mosquito, flying in the Banff
Strike Wing. In April 1945 he was shot down when returning from
a strike in the Kattegat, he and his navigator avoided capture,
and with the help of the Danish resistance made it home to England.
After a short rest he continued
to fly again from RAF Banff, he left the RAF in 1946.
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Flight Lieutenant DesCurtis DFC
Joining the RAF in 1941, Des Curtiss trained
to be an observer/wireless operator/gunner. In 1942 he was posted
to
235 Squadron based at RAF Leuchars flying Beaufighters on operations
in the North Sea, along the Norwegian coast, and deep into the
Fjords attacking enemy shipping, carrying out reconnaissance,
and providing fighter escorts to Hampden
torpedo bombers. In April 1943 he converted to Mosquitos and
joined others to form 618 Squadron for special operations from
RAF Skitton. In September 1943 they moved to Predannack, then
onto Portreath having great success attacking U-Boats in their
pens along the French Atlantic Coast. He was awarded the DFC
in April 1944. In September 1944 he
joined 248 Squadron and moved to RAF Banff, where he served with
the Banff Strike Wing until the beginning of 1945.
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Flying Officer Maurice Webb DFM
Maurice joined the RAF in 1942,and went on
to train as an observer/wireless operator/gunner, initially in
England then finishing his training in Canada. On his return
to the UK in October 1943 he was posted on ops to 235 Squadron
based at RAF Portreath, flying Beaufighters attacking shipping
and harbour installations. In 1944 he converted to Mosquitos,
and joined 248 Squadron moving on to serve with the Banff Strike
Wing until March 1945. He was awarded the DFM in August 1944,
and then spent time flying in an RAF Walrus on Air Sea Rescue
operations.
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Warrant Officer Bill Parfitt
Bill Parfitt joined the RAF in 1941 and completed
his pilot training in Canada. In January 1943 he was posted to
235 Squadron based at RAF Leuchars, flying Beaufighters on strike
missions in the North Sea, over the Norwegian coast and deep
inside the Fjords, mainly against enemy shipping and occupied
ports. In January 1944 he was posted to
248 Squadron at RAF Peedannack and converted to Mosquitos, moving
onto to RAF Portreath flying combat operations against the French
coast including support missions in the lead up to D-Day. In
September 1944 he went with the Squadron to RAF Banff and flew
with the Banff Strike Wing until 1945.
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