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RAF Battle of Britain Consolidated Database
3094+ Entries in Database
Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
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THIS DATABASE IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT
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NOTE: KIA = Killed In Action. WIA = Wounded In Action. KIFA = Killed in Flying Accident. = Jewish as per jewishvirtuallibrary.org
Fate In Battle is date of incident between July 10 1940 and October 31 1940. Fate After Battle is date of death after the Battle


The Battle of Britain clasp (worn on the 1939-45 Star – or a silver gilt rosette if medal ribbons only are worn) is restricted to aircrew from 71 defined units
of RAF Fighter Command, Coastal Command or the Fleet Air Arm, who flew at least one operational sortie between 00:01 July 10 1940 and 23:59 October 31 1940.

To see a larger database covering the entirety of WWll, refer to our Allied Losses and Incidents database. This database is the result of research into all known sources of information on the crews which fought the Battle of Britain on the Allied side. It is surprising that for the most significant air battle of WW2, and even after 80+ years, there remains any uncertainty at all about who took part and in some cases, what they did. We have made it our objective to develop this database into a most comprehensive and accurate record which brings to life those heroic deeds. You can help: send corrections and additional information via our Helpdesk.
We believe this database to be among the most useful records extant in terms of its searchability: for example, it is easy to determine all Blenheim crews, or losses on a specific date or the members of a particular squadron.

Readers are referred to the following sites which we have used to cross-check information and we acknowledge and thank them as respected sources for some of the material in this database:
VintageWings.ca: comprehensive listing of artworks
bbm.org: Comprehensive listing of RAF personnel and service records
Wikipedia: Life stories of leading pilots and crew
AircrewRemembered Paradie Canadian Archive Database: 45,000 Service Records of RCAF personnel
AircrewRemembered Allied Losses and Incidents Database: Covering 120,000+ Allied aircrew 1939 - 1945
AircrewRemembered Archiwum: specialist database with details of Polish personnel (in Polish)
AircrewRemembered Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: 31,000 Luftwaffe pilot and crew details
AircrewRemembered LOST: Rob Philips Memorial Archive: Dutch losses in Europe
bel-memorial.org: Comprehensive site on Belgian aircrew


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You searched for: “"gillam"”

#Name
SORT (↑)		First NamesRankService No.Air ForceCountry of Origin*SquadronsAwardsAircraftVictoriesFate in BattleFate After BattleDateOfDeath**************Notes**************Photo
1 GillamDenys EdgarFlt Lt37167RAFBritish616Sqn

615Sqn (CO)

312Sqn Czechoslovakia

306Sqn (Polish)

DSO & Bar

DFC & Bar

AFC

Hurricane/Spitfire7 (likely 4 more)Survived war1991-07-09 Ryedale Yorks England Archive Report on the loss of this aircraft

Baled out Spitfire I (X4181) 1940-09-02 at 16:35hrs. He had been in combat with a Bf 110 over Tonbridge, Kent. Unhurt.

Born on the 18th November 1915 in Tynemouth, Northumberland. Son of Thomas Henry James Gillam (died 26th May 1947) and Doris Gillam (née Homfray - born 16th March 1890, died 05th May 1988). Pilot licence obtained in 1934, joining the RAF in 1936. In June 1938, Gillam received the AFC for flying food to Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland in very hazardous conditions in a Westland Wapiti. First wife Nancye Short died. After the death of his first wife, he married Irene Scott in March 1983.

Also served with Meteorological Flight at Aldergrove, 312 (Czechoslovakian) squadron, 306 (Polish) squadron, commanded 615 squadron, commanded Typhoon Wing, No 12 Group, Fighter Command, commanded 146 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in GB and North West Europe. He passed away on the 09th July 1991 age 75 at Ryedale, North Yorkshire.



Images from our Archives
2 GillamErnestSgt746755RAFVRBritish248Sqn

BlenheimMIARunnymede Age 30
3 HutchinsonIainSgt102960RAFVRBritish222Sqn

Spitfire4 + 2 probableDied2007-05-06 (believed)On patrol 18 September 1940. Baled out Spitfire I (R6772) over Canterbury after combat with a Bf 109 at 13:55hrs and was wounded. 30 September 1940 he survived when wrote off Spitfire I (P9492), force landed at Denham after combat at 13:45hrs.

Born in Glasgow 13th November 1918. Joined RAFVR in May 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot, raining at 12 ERFTS Prestwick. On 1st October 1939 to 12 FTS Grantham, then posted to 236 Squadron at Martlesham Heath, on Blenheims. On 9th February posted to 222 Squadron at Duxford, also equipped on Blenheims. Blenheims replaced by Spitfires in March 1940. Squadron to Hornchurch in May. On 30th August his aircraft was damaged in combat and he force landed at Damyns Hall Farm, Rainham but was unhurt.

'On our first sortie we lost half the squadron. I myself was shot down the next day. I was flying again the next day but I was shot down five times during the next month, though I didn't end up in hospital until the last time.' That happened when he was shot down in flames over south west London, miraculously managing to bale out, although he was badly burned. Hutchinson was treated for burns at RAF hospital Uxbridge where he was one of the last to receive a tannic acid treatment then used for burns. He said: 'The acid produced great scabs that covered my face and legs while the whites of my eyes turned bright red.' Hutchinson's Battle of Britain record saw him register three Me109 German fights as confirmed kills, one Heinkel bomber, an Me109 and one Me110 twin-engined heavy fighter as probably destroyed and one Me109 damaged.

Some accounts say 'One of his most notable victories was the shooting down of veteran pilot Oberleutenant Eckehard Priebe, who was taken prisoner and sent to Canada'. However, RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims Part 1 for 222 Sqd on that day record one Me 109 claim: 222 Sqn Spit FC Sgt I Hutchinson Bf109 damaged N Maidstone 1815. Since LCA times the crash of Oblt Priebe’s aircraft at 0930, as does BoBT&N and BlitzT&N, then the 2 most likely claims are 603 Sqn Spit FC P/O BJG Carbury Bf109 destroyed Canterbury area 0900 and 616 Sqn Spit FC F/L DE Gillam Bf109 destroyed Dover area 0940.

Hutchinson's flying days were not over. Hutchinson eventually recovered from his burns and he went on to fly unarmed Spitfire reconnaissance missions with 1 PRU at Benson and 2 PRU at Leuchars before being shot down over Norway after converting to Mosquitos. On 2nd April 1942 Mosquito PR Mk. I W4056 was airborne from Leuchars on a PR sortie to Trondheim. They were pursued and attacked by two Me109s of JG1. Oblt. H Huppertz of 12/JG1 claimed the victory. Despite the aircraft having lost most of its tail Hutchinson made a forced landing on the German-occupied airfield at Ørland. He landed despite the tail being shot off and his navigator calmly fired a Verey pistol into a pool of petrol, blowing up the plane. Eventually, they were met by a Luftwaffe officer who said in perfect English: 'We've been waiting for you for a while. I'm afraid our coffee's cold, but have some schnapps instead.' Hutchinson spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft 3, the prisoner of war camp of Wooden Horse and Great Escape fame.


Plate from 'Men Of The Battle Of Britain' by Ken Wynne

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