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RAF Sutton Bridge

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  1. One individual who really stands out on the group photo is George Beurling who had the nickname ‘Screwball’ as can be seen he was a highly decorated ace fighter pilot, in its time RAF Sutton Bridge was home to a number of well known pilots many of which flew in The Battle of Britain.

  2. ‘J Bead DFM’ is probably (by then Flt Lt) John Maurice Bentley Beard, gazetted DFM (as a Sgt/P) on 22 Dec 1940 whilst with 249 Sqn. Shot down three days later; survived to join CGS at Sutton Bridge in Mar 1942; died 2020.
    ‘R Dafford DFM’ is in fact Robert Chippendall Dafforn, awarded the DFC with 501 Sqn on 17 Jan 1941, shot down twice (1940 – unhurt, 1942 – with shrapnel wounds); sadly crashed and killed whilst at Sutton Bridge on 9 Sep 1943 when his port wing touched the ground during a steep turn in Spitfire P7289 as part of an air firing exercise.

  3. Wg Cdr P Walker is probably (later Gp Capt) Peter Russell Walker CBE DSO DFC; awarded DFC with 1 Sqn in France Jun 1940, DSO whilst RAF Tangmere wing leader 11 Sep1942, later CO RAF Tangmere, RAF West Malling and RAF Fassberg. Awarded CBE 1958, died Lympstone, Devon in Dec 1971.
    E Mayne AFC is almost certainly Sqn Ldr Ernest ‘Tubby’ Mayne; who joined the RFC as a boy entrant in 1917, served as aircrew Sgt on 70 Sqn RAF in 1932; qualified as a pilot in 1934; a W/O (P) on 74 Sqn in 1940; posted to Sutton Bridge in 1940, awarded AFC 1 Jan 1942 ; retired from the RAF in 1945; passed away in Thanet, Kent, 1978.

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