George was born 28 December 1914. He worked as an insurance agent until 7 November 1938 when he joined the RAF. When war broke out George was on 90 Squadron and then transferred to 101 Squadron on 5th October. He had been involved in daytime bombing raids against German shipping from the first weeks of the war. On 18th October he was transferred again, this time to 107 Squadron. He was transferred to 107 Squadron which was led by Wing Commander Basil Embry who turned out to be one of the most outstanding commanders of the war. George referred to him with admiration and respect as “The Wingco”. George was not the Wingco’s regular Observer but he flew with him on several occasions. On 9th April 1940 the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway. Britain and France sent forces to Norway to try to stem the German advance. The Blenheims and other light bombers were tasked with supporting the naval and land forces They did not have the range to reach their targets in Norway from their bases in Norfolk and Suffolk so two Blenheim squadrons, including George’s, were transferred to Lossiemouth. As they flew north they crossed over Cupar. George was navigating for the Wingco and said, “That’s my home town down there!” Over the next three weeks the two Blenheim squadrons made several bombing raids over Norway, mostly by night to give them some protection from German fighters which were now based at Stavanger and other Norwegian airfields. Nevertheless they suffered losses due to fighter attacks, anti-aircraft fire from the ground and mechanical failures. In the early hours of 24th April 1940 George’s luck ran out. His aircraft failed to return from a bombing raid against Stavanger’s Sola airfield, held by the Germans. In the letter from Basil Embry to George’s parents he says they had successfully attacked the airfield but then encountered enemy fighters and were shot down. George was Cupar’s first war fatality. It had a terrible effect on the whole family but none more so than George’s father, Chris. A few days later Chris received a letter of condolence from his Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Basil Embry – “The Wingco”, in which he wrote that George was “one of his best Observers” and ”… a very likeable chap”. The letter was sensitively worded and came across as very sincere. However Chris was inconsolable. He never fully recovered from the shock and died in 1947 at the age of 66 of a stroke. George’s death is recorded at the Runnymede Memorial and on Cupar War Memorial. |