Davey, John Arthur Joseph (9-39) 1 Sqn
Davey was born in Leamington and joined the RAF as an apprentice in August 1936 passing out in July 1939. Awarded a scholarship to RAFC Cranwell he began the course which was suspended as war broke out and he remustered as an Airman u/t.
Davis Charles Trevor (4-39B)
Davis was born in Cardiff and educated at Whitby County School (although the CWGC has his parents being of Grindleford, Derbyshire and his name is on the war memorial there). He entered the RAF College, Cranwell on 27th April 1939 as a Flight Cadet. The advent of war caused the course to be shortened and on its completion in May 1940 Davis was granted a Permanent Commission.He joined 238 Squadron in June 1940. On 13th July Davis shared in the destruction of two Me110's and a Do17, on the 20th he shared a Me109, on the 21st shared a Me110 and a Do17 and on the 27th destroyed a Ju87. He claimed a Me110 destroyed on 8th August, two Me110's on the 13th, damaged a Ju88 on 12th September, probably destroyed a He111 on the 15th and damaged a Ju88 on the 21st. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 25th October 1940). Davis was killed on 26th March 1941 when he flew into a hill coming down through cloud near Winchester. He was 20 years old. He was cremated at St John's Crematorium, Woking, Surrey.
Dewar John Scatliff ( 1-26B)
87 & 213 Sqn Dewar attended the Royal Air Force College Cranwell from 1926 and 1927 and on graduation was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. On 10 November 1939 he was posted to RAF's No. 11 Group pilot pool for reassignment to a fighter squadron. Hewas by that time one of the most senior active duty pilots in the RAF. Dewar was given command of No. 87 Squadron RAF on 29 November 1939 and led the Squadron during operations during the Battle of France, and distinguished himself by his superb piloting and leadership skills. On 7 May 1940, returning from a sortie in bad weather and low on fuel, Dewar had to force land his Hurricane at an unserviceable airfield at Villefranche. As he touched down his wheels dug into the mud and the aircraft overturned, severely injuring his right shoulder. In spite of his injury, he refused to ground himself and continued to fly. He claimed a Dornier Do 17 shared and two Junker Ju 87s of I./StG 2 on 11 May, and another JU 87 the next day. For this and his leadership of 87 Squadron he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). On 20 May 1940, in the face of the advancing German Army, Dewar ordered his squadron to return to England He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which appeared in the London Gazette of 31 May 1940. The citation reads:
Air Ministry, 31 May 1940. ROYAL AIR FORCE.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned awards, in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:—
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Squadron Leader John Scatliff DEWAR (26029)
This officer has shot down five enemy aircraft and led many patrols with courage and skill.[
In the same edition of the Gazette he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order with the following citation:
Air Ministry, 31 May 1940. ROYAL AIR FORCE.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned appointments and awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:—
Appointed Companions of the Distinguished Service Order.
Squadron Leader John Scatliff DEWAR, D.F.C. (26029)
Before intensive operations started this officer injured his right shoulder in a severe flying accident. Despite this, he flew regularly and led his squadron with skill and dash, more than 60 enemy aircraft being destroyed by them. He remained in command of the squadron throughout the operations, in spite of the injured shoulder, trained his new pilots well and continued throughout to be a very efficient commander, inculcating an excellent spirit in his squadron. He continued to fly operationally from RAF Exeter with No. 87 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, claiming two Bf 110 fighters on 11 July, a share in a Ju 88 on 13 August, and a Ju88 destroyed on 25 August. On 11 September 1940 Dewar took off on a routine flight from RAF Exeter for RAF Tangmere in Hurricane V7306 but he failed to arrive. There was considerable enemy action in late afternoon that day around Southampton, including a low-level bombing raid on Eastleigh airfield by the elite Eprobungsgruppe 210. The timing of this raid closely approximates in time and location Dewar's route north of Southampton, so it has been speculated is that he may have observed enemy aircraft and decided to join the combat on his own. As it was an "unofficial" flight (he was taking advantage of a brief lull in the action to visit his wife who lived near Tangmere), he was not reported as missing until the following day, 12 September, which is erroneously recorded in the records as his date of death.[Dewar was the highest RAF ranking officer to be lost during the battle. His body was washed ashore on 30 September 1940 at Kingston Gorse in Sussex. There is some mystery surrounding his death as some reports suggest that he had taken to his parachute and that his body "was riddled with bullets" when it was found, implying that he had been shot and killed during his parachute descent. There are no German claims for aircraft destroyed in Luftwaffe records, so it remains unclear the cause of Dewar's death. John Scatliff Dewar is buried at St. John the Baptist church in North Baddesley, Hampshire
Dowding, The Hon. Derek Hugh Tremenheere (9-37)
74 Sqn Derek Hugh Tremenheere Dowding was born on 9th January 1919, the son of Group Captain HCT Dowding, later Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding.
He was educated at Winchester College and entered RAF College, Cranwell as a Flight Cadet in September 1937. On graduation in July 1939, Dowding was commissioned and posted to 74 Squadron at Hornchurch. The squadron flew over France from 20th May 1940. On the 24th Dowding destroyed a Do17, shared another and probably destroyed a Ju88, on the 23rd he shared a Do17 and on the 27th damaged a Do17 after chasing it for 20 miles before being forced to break off by intense anti-aircraft fire. On 6th July 1940 Dowding probably destroyed a He111 and two days later he shared in the destruction of another. He was posted away to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 8th August to be an instructor. He was still instructing in 1941 but became a Flight Commander with 135 Squadron later in the year. He served as a test pilot in the Middle East from 1942 to 1945 and held a number of appointments and commands before retiring on 17th November 1956 as a Wing Commander. He retired 17 November1956 died 1992
Donald Ian David Grahame (1-36A)
Donald was born on 3rd September 1917, his father was Air Marshal Sir DG Donald. He was at Dulwich College from 1931 to 1935 and entered RAF College Cranwell in January 1936 as an Honorary King's Cadet. After graduation, Donald joined 64 Squadron at Church Fenton on 18th December 1937. During the 1938 Air Exercises he was pilot of one of a formation of 64 Squadron Hawker Demons that were caught in a dense fog which descended suddenly over a wide area of England on 7th August. They were routed over Digby and then all pilots and air gunners were ordered to bale out. Donald joined 141 Squadron when it was reformed at Turnhouse with Defiants on 4th October 1939. On 29th November he was promoted to Acting Flight Lieutenant and appointed a Flight Commander. On 12th July 1940 the squadron moved south to West Malling. Donald was flying one of nine Defiants attacked by Me109's of III/JG51 off Dover on the 19th. He was killed in the aircraft while his gunner, P/O AC Hamilton, baled out but was drowned in the sea. Their aircraft, L7009, crashed at Elmsvale Road, Dover.
Donald is buried in All Saints' churchyard, Tilford, Surrey.
