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RAF Battle of Britain Consolidated Database
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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: “"deere"”

#Name
SORT (↑)		First NamesRankService No.PhotoAir ForceCountry of Origin*SquadronsAwardsAircraftVictoriesFate in BattleFate After BattleDateOfDeath**************Notes**************
1 AllenJohn LawrenceFg Off70008
RAFBritish54Sqn

DFC
SpitfireKIA1940-07-241940-05-23 took part in a daring rescue operation. He and Al Deere escorted their Flight Commander James Leathart to France where he was to land a Miles Master trainer and pick up the C/O of 74 Sqd who had made a forced landing on the airfield at Calais-Marck. The pick-up was made, with Allen watching from 8,000 feet and Deere circling at low level. An approaching formation of Bf 109s was spotted by Allen as the Master taxied out for take-off. As a strafing Bf 109 pulled out of its dive, presenting a perfect target, Deere fired a short burst and the aircraft stalled and then crashed into the sea. Deere, climbing to help Allen, crossed the path of two Bf 109s, one of which turned towards him. Deere also turned, firing at the second one, which rolled over and dived away. Pursuing the first one, he caught up at treetop height and pursued him, firing off his remaining ammunition before the German headed for home. Diving towards the coast Deere called up Allen and was relieved to hear him answer. In the meantime the Master had taken off and headed for Hornchurch. In the action three Bf 109s had been shot down and three others severely damaged with no losses. Allen was killed 1940-07-24 near Margate. His Spitfire (P9549) or (R6812) was shot down on convoy patrol by Bf 109s of III Gruppe of JG 26. He stalled and crashed at Cliftonville at 12:30hrs. Spitfire R6812 crashed and burned at Cliftonville following damage to the engine in combat with BF 109s Margate Cemetery
2 Bell-WalkerHoward JohnSgt103515RAFVRBritish64Sqn

72Sqn

602Sqn

MBE

SpitfirePoW. Survived War2nd November 1999 Ottowa, Ontario CanadaBorn 7th August 1920 Birmingham. Educated at Rynaby School, Banbury and Bloxham School. RAFVR in April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot at 8 E&RFTS Woodley. November 1939 to 7 EFTS Desford. 11th April 1940 posted to 10 FTS Ternhill on No. 19 Course. Qualified 24th July 1940. 5 OTU Aston Down on 3rd August on Spitfires, joined 64 Sqd at Leconfield on the 19th. To 72 Sqd at Croydon on 11th September. 14 September baled out after combat over Ashford. Spitfire K9960 burned out at Orlestone. Shot down 18 September in a surprise attack by Me109s on a squadron patrol over Gravesend. Seriously wounded and in hospital for some time. 25th November 1940 rejoined 64 Squadron at Kenley. Early 1941 posted to 602 Sqd at Prestwick . Commissioned August 1941. 12th August 1941 in Circus 70 a Hampden escort to Gosnay power station, flying as number two to the CO, S/Ldr. Al Deere. Surprised by Me109s and Bell-Walker was shot down in Spitfire Vb AB844 before he could break away. He baled out, wounded, and was captured. Held in Stalag Luft 3. Transferred into the Engineering Branch after the war. MBE 30th April 1954. Retired on 1st December 1967 as a Sqd Ldr.

On patrol on 1940-09-14 he baled out of Spitfire I (K9960) safely after combat over Ashford in Kent at 18:30hrs. On 1940-09-18 Spitfire I (R6704) badly damaged and he was badly wounded when he was attacked by Bf 109s over Gravesend, Kent at 10:30hrs. On 1941-08-12 he was shot down in Spitfire V by a Bf 109, wounded and captured while flying with 602 Sqd as No 2 to Sqd Ldr Al Deere.
3 DavisJackSgt50555

British54Sqn

AFC

SpitfireJoined 54 Sqd 1940-08-09. 1940-08-31, was one of 3 pilots trying to take off during a bombing raid. Spitfire (possibly No N3110) was thrown over the boundary fence by a bomb blast just as it took off, and it crashed into the River Ingrebourne. Other pilots were E.F.Edsall and A.C.Deere. Davis disappeared and assumed killed. 2 hours later he turned up at the main gate, unhurt and carrying his parachute. He had been thrown clear but had to walk halfway around the aerodrome to get back in as he couldn't find a gap in the fence. AFC 1945-04-03.
4 DeereAlan ChristopherFlt Lt (later Air Commodore)NZ/40370

RNZAFNew Zealander54Sqn

DSO

OBE

DFC & Bar

Croix de Guerre (France)

DFC (USA

)		Spitfire22Died 21 September 1995Born in Auckland 1917-12-12. Joined RAF October 1937. 54 Sqd in September 1938. 1940-05-23 A.C took part in a daring rescue operation. He and Pilot Officer Allen escorted their flight commander, James Leathart, to France to pick up the CO of 74 Sqd who had made a forced landing on the airfield at Calais-Marck. The pick-up was made, with Allen watching from 8000 feet and Deere circling at low level. An approaching formation of Bf 109s was spotted by Allen as the Master taxied out for take-off. A strafing Bf 109 pulled out of its dive, Deere fired a short burst and the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea. Deere, climbing to help Allen, crossed the path of two Bf 109s, one of which turned towards him. Deere also turned, firing at the second one, which rolled over and dived away. Pursuing the first one, he caught up at treetop height and pursued him, firing off his remaining ammunition before the German headed for home. Diving towards the coast Deere called up Allen and was relieved to hear him answer. In the meantime the Master had taken off and headed for Hornchurch. In the action three Bf 109s had been shot down and three others severely damaged. During four days - 23 to 29 May - Deere shot down three Bf 109s and three Bf 110s and in June was decorated with the DFC by the King at a special ceremony at Hornchurch. J.A.Leathart and Allen were decorated at the same time. During the Battle of Britain Deere destroyed seven more enemy fighters and one bomber and was awarded a Bar to the DFC. on the Ist of December 1940 he was sent for a rest, and in January 1941 became an Operations Room Controller. He returned to operations on 7 May 1941, joining 602 Sqd in Scotland as a Flight Commander. On the 10th he was scrambled to investigate a Bf 110 flying westwards. He did not sight the enemy aircraft but after landing was told it had crashed near Glasgow. The pilot was later revealed to be Rudolf Hess. Deere took command of 602 Sqd on August the 1st 1941 and on that day destroyed a Bf 109, his first victory for eleven months. When his second operational tour ended in January 1942 Deere went to the USA to lecture on fighter tactics but was restless for a return to operations. He achieved this in May 1942, when he took command of No 403 Squadron, leading it until August before being posted to staff duties. During a temporary attachment to No 611 Squadron in February 1943 Deere destroyed an FW 190. Some days later he was appointed Wing Leader at Biggin Hill. He flew 121 sorties during his six months' leadership and increased his personal score to twenty-two confirmed victories, ten probables and eighteen damaged. Deere wrote of his experiences and his many escapes from death in his classic book, 'Nine Lives', published in 1959.

Wikipedia


Signed by Al Deere, Adolf Galland, Erich Rudorffer
5 Douglas-JonesEricSqd Ldr (Later Grp Cpt)
Claimed to be Douglas-Jones on Pinterest, unconfirmed		RAFSouth African54Sqn (CO)

Spitfire HurricaneDied1984-01-29On 3 September 1939, War was declared with Germany and Eric became a Controller in the operations Room with two other officers. They alternated watch over 24 hours a day receiving information, contact with all fighter squadrons on stand by ready to intercept German air attacks. In 1940 large scale enemy air raids took place and later that year Eric took command of 54 Sqd at RAF Hornchurch, Esex. This squadron flew Hurricanes ad Spitfires and at this juncture the first use of VHF radio gave pilots greater range and clearer reception. In May 1940 the Germans outflanked Allied forces at the Maginot Line via Belgium and Holland. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 9 Divisions advanced to meet the attack but could not hold and were pushed back to Dunkirk. RAF squadrons went to meet and intercept enemy aircraft attacking Allied ground forces. Hornchurch was one of the nearest stations to the English Channel coast and Air Marshall Dowding ordered the testing of Spitfire’s ability to cross the Channel and after combat to return with enough fuel. Eric took off with his squadron on 16th May 1940, crossed the Channel and patrolled the French coastline from Ostend to Dunkirk and then returned to Hornchurch. He was able to report that the test was a success and opened the way to further missions to protect British & French Forces at Dunkirk. During this period they regularly engaged with German Stuka, Messerschmitt and Heinkel. On second mission, Flying Officer Al Deere who he had trained at No.6 Fighter School, shot down the first German Bf109. On one flight 24 May 1940, he lost consciousness at 32 000ft due to oxygen failure but regained consciousness again at 5000 ft in time to save himself and the aircraft. After the evacuation of Dunkirk Eric was transferred back to Headquarters No.11 Group as Wing Commander for specific duties as Group Controller in Fighter Group Operations Room and handed over his command of 54 Sqd to Squadron Leader J. Leathart. Died 1984 Age 78
6 DunworthFelix Patrick RaphaelFlt Lt28185British66Sqn

54Sqn (CO)

SpitfireHe took over Command of 54 Sqd from Al Deere in September 1940.
7 EdsallEric FrankPlt Off81368
RAFBritish54Sqn

222Sqn

DFC
SpitfireWIAKIA1942-01-16Joined 54 Sqd 940-08-01. Edsall destroyed three enemy aircraft before 31 August when at 13:15hrs, he was one of 3 taking off in the middle of an air-raid. Spitfire I (X4236) blown sideways across the airfield, spinning around and landing upright. Got out of wreck, but legs were so badly injured he could not stand. Crawled over to F/O Al Deere's inverted Spitfire I (R6895) where Deere was trapped in his cockpit, hanging in his harness. Edsall managed to wrench off the cockpit door and free Deere, who was then able to take Edsall to the sick bay. Sgt J.Davis was the other pilot trying to get airborn. Posted to 222 Sqd when he had recovered from his injuries and added one more kill to his score by the Battle's end. Another crash in Spitfire I (X4548), on the 27th of October 1940-10-27 running out of fuel after combat, was injured crash landing near Hailsham at 14:05hrs. DFC 1942-01-16. Killed in Japanese attack on Ceylon 1942-04-12. Sangro River War Cemetery Age 24.
8 LeathartJames Anthony 'The Prof'Sqd Ldr39625British54Sqn

DSO

Spitfire11DiedLong-serving member of 54 Sqf. May 21 shot down a He 111. Next day he flew a trainer to a French aerodrome to pick up CO of 74 Sqd, escorted by F/O A.C.Deere and P/O J.L.Allen. Despite interference by German fighters, the mission was successful and Leathart was awarded the DSO on 11 June 1940 for this action. By the end of May he had shot down six more enemy aircraft and had taken over acting command of the Squadron. He scored four more victories during the Battle. Retired from RAF in 1962 at the rank of Air Commodore
9 ShandMichael MorayPlt Off391368New Zealander54Sqn

SpitfireDiedJoined 54 Sqd 24 August 1940 with a meagre 20hrs flying on Spitfires and no training at all in combat. Flew as No 2 to Al Deere on his first outing. Injured on 25 August 1940 at 19:20hrs in Spitfire I (R6969) attacked by a Bf 109 over Dover. Took part in the The Great Escape

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