Operation: Night Intruder

Date: 4th June 1942 (Thursday)

Unit: 1 Squadron, Fighter Command

Type: Hurricane IIc

Serial: Z3183

Code: JX:?

Base: RAF Tangmere, West Sussex.

Location: English Channel off France

Pilot: WO. Josef 'Ligoticky' Dygryn DFM 787678 RAFVR Age 24. KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 01:05 hrs from RAF Tangmere on a night intruder operation over Evreux-Fauvill, France when it is understood that his Hurricane was hit by flak off the coast. His body was recovered in September later that year and due to the period in the water identification became very difficult. It was finally recognised as that of WO. Dygryn as a pistol recovered with the body had been inscribed with his wifes name.

WO. Josef Dygryn was a decorated Battle of Britain pilot and was credited with 5 enemy aircraft destroyed and 1 damaged. 3 of those destroyed, 2 He111 and a Ju88, were on the night of the 10th/11th May 1941. He was known as Ligoticky, a 'nom de guerre' which was a common practice for many aircrew who had left behind family in German occupied territories.

Burial Details:

WO. Josef Dygryn DFM. Westwell Burial Ground, Kent, Grave 243. Born on the 6th March 1918 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Husband of Doris Gwen Emily (née Reeves) Dygryn who died just 5 months after the marriage of what is thought to have been Tuberculosis (TB). She was buried nearby in an unmarked grave. He was finally laid to rest on the 14th September 1942.

His wife, was previously a nurse at Hothfield Hospital in Ashford, Kent. However, when she met Josef she was serving member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). See the page on the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Associates Ltd for their story.

Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to Kirsty Reeves who contacted us in June 2016 with corrected information. Thanks to Victoria Wicks for the link to the story of Josef and Doris (Oct 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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