Sargeant John Bernard Philpott
Royal Air Force 82 Squadron
from:Wellington, New Zealand
(d.8th Sep 1940)
John Bernard Philpott, born 18 September 1909, New Zealand. John was a member of the Wellington Aero Club, New Zealand, studied with the Dominion School of Aeronautics and obtained his pilots License. He volunteered for the Royal New Zealand Air Force shortly after war broke on the 26 Oct 1939. Having turned 30 years of age he was not considered for Pilot Training.
He went to England to train as an Observer/Air Gunner and then on to Norfolk where he was posted with others to R.A.F. 82 Squadron at Watton, Norfolk as replacements for crew lost during raids on German held bases. He was part of several sorties over the occupied ports of the English Channel where it was suspected landing craft for the invasion of England were being assembled (Operation Sea Lion). Intelligence hinted that the invasion was planned for the second week of September 1940 so on the 8th September three bombers of 82 Squadron were sent over on a reconnaissance mission to the Belgium ports even though weather conditions grounded all other aircraft of both sides. Unfortunately only the leader’s aircraft returned to base. It is assumed that John his pilot P/O J.M.McCausland and Air Gunner Sgt R.S. Fletcher together with the crew of the third aircraft crashed in the channel and no trace has ever been found of them or their aircraft. Officially John was listed 'Missing Presumed Killed' on the 8th September 1940. His name is on the memorial in Runnymeade, Surrey, United Kingdom
