You searched for: “"duckenfield"”
# | Name | First Names | Rank | Service No. | Air Force | Country of Origin* | Squadrons | Awards | Aircraft | Victories | Fate in Battle | Fate After Battle | DateOfDeath | **************Notes************** | Photo |
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1 | Duckenfield | Byron Leonard | Plt Off | 43368 | RAF | British | 32Sqn 74Sqn 501Sqn 66Sqn (CO) 615Sqn (CO) 19Sqn | AFC Queen's Commendation Valuable Service | Hurricane | 4 | Died | 2010-11-19 | Allied Losses Database Later with 615 Sqd in Burma, lost, captured and repatriated in 1945 Born on 15th April 1917 in Sheffield. He joined RAF on 25th November 1935 . Elementary flying training at the Civil Flying Training School at Brough (4 E&RFTS). Moved on to 10 FTS Ternhill on No. 1 Course. Posted to 32 Squadron. Commissioned 1st April 1940, joined 74 Squadron at Hornchurch on 6th April and then to 501 Sqd at Tangmere on 5th May. Sqd flew to France on 10th May, Duckenfield followed with the rear party the next day in a Bombay transport. As it prepared to touch down at Betheniville the aircraft's nose went up and the pilot went round again. On the second approach the same thing happened, the pilot appeared to lose control and the Bombay, L5813, went into a tail-slide and crashed. Three passengers were killed and six injured, including Duckenfield. Treated at the Casualty Clearing Station at Epernay and sent back to Roehampton Hospital. Posted to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge as non-effective sick. Rejoined 501, then at Middle Wallop, on 23rd July 1940. On the 29th July he claimed a share in a Ju87, on 16th August damaged a Do17, on the 28th destroyed a Me109 and on 8th September a Me110. Posted away to AFDU Northolt on 15th September 1940 on instructional duties and awarded the AFC. October 1941 he took command of 66 Sqd at Perranporth and in February 1942 command of 615 Sqd at Fairwood Common. To the Far East in March 1942. He failed to return from an attack on Magwe airfield on 27th December 1942. His engine failed over the target, he forced-landed in a creek and was captured by the Japanese. Released from captivity in Burma in May 1945. He then commanded 19 Sqd with Meteors, receiving the Queens Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. Retired from the RAF on 28th June 1969 as a Group Captain. |
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