Deacon, John William
Personal Information
Rank | W/C |
Forename(s) | John William |
Surname | Deacon |
Gender | M |
Age | 35 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 27-02-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Richard William and Alice Grace Deacon. Husband of Margaret Marwood Deacon. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | de Havilland Mosquito IV |
Serial Number | DZ472 |
Markings | GB-Z |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Brookwood Military Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 23. B. 18. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 154 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 25042 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 2 |
Squadron | 105 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | All Saints Church, Swanton Morley, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Window |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF Swanton Morley during WW2, including 105 Sqn from October 1940 to December 1941 |
Miscellaneous Information
The report of the Accidents Investigation Branch stated that "The aircraft took off from Marham at approximately 1435 hrs on a high altitude flight authorised at the request of Wing Commander Deacon of Army Co-operation Command as he wished to test some special binoculars The pilot was instructed to climb to 30,000 ft in the vicinity of the aerodrome and to remain there until the Wing Commander's work was completed." |
Commanding Officer of 105 Squadron. His predecessor, W/C GP Longfield, was killed on 26.2.43 and so it would appear that W/C Deacon succeeded him, meaning that he had a tenure of just 1 day. |
RAF career: 8.2.35 Seconded from the army (Worcestershire Regiment) for service with the RAF, 28.8.35 Qualified as a pilot, 28.8.35 No. 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Manston, 28.6.37 No. 59 (A.C.) Squadron, Old Sarum, 13.9.39 208 Squadron, Egypt, 13.7.40 18 Squadron, West Raynham, 26.2.41 13 O.T.U., Bicester, 4.7.42 13 Squadron, Odiham, took command 12.7.42, 13.10.42 HQ, A.C.C., 27.2.43 Killed at Marham. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/827/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/827/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-02-1943 |
End Date | 27-02-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Marham |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training |
Reason for Loss | Crashed following structural failure of the wing root, just 1mile from the home airfield |