James Vernon 1915 – 1940
James Edward Vernon was born on 21 August 1915, at Roxburgh, Central Otago, son of George and Jemima Vernon. The Vernons were a mining family, originally from Waikaia, subsequently moving to Roxburgh and later Glenorchy. James attended Otago Boys High School for three years secondary education from 1929 until 1931, passing his matriculation. He played rugby and cricket for his school, and later played senior rugby for Glenorchy, where his father was gold-mining. Following the family tradition James became manager of an alluvial gold mining company at Queenstown.
In 1937 James applied for a Short Service commission in the Royal Air Force, and on being selected was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and posted to No.1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram to undertake preliminary flying training and obtain his ‘A’ flying licence. On 15 November 1937 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer at Wigram. On 18 July 1938 he embarked on the Akaroa at Auckland to proceed to the United Kingdom.
On reporting to the Air Ministry, Pilot Officer Vernon was instructed to proceed to RAF Depot Uxbridge, Middlesex on 23 August 1938, for a short disciplinary course. This completed, he was posted to 150 (Bomber) Squadron for squadron flying duties, flying Fairey Battle bombers. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, 150 Squadron was moved to France as the part of the Advanced Air Striking Force and in May 1940 was one of the Battle squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges in an attempt to stem the German advance.
The Fairey Battle first flew in 1936. After the First World War, relatively slow, light day bombers were considered militarily feasible until, early in the Second World War, Fairey Battles were blown from the sky by fast single-seat fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Their place in the military armoury was filled by fighter aircraft which were fast and could effectively defend themselves after dropping their bomb. The Fairey Battle has been described as a disaster, being too slow, vulnerable and under-gunned for air warfare in Second World War. Those surviving the early war years were reallocated to training duties.
James Vernon undertook a three months course in navigation at the School of Air Navigation from December 1939 to February 1940. Apart from that, he remained with his squadron in England and France undertaking operational flying for the remainder of his service. During this time he was promoted to Flying Officer.
On 26 May 1940, Flying Officer Vernon led an action for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He took off at 0925 from Pouan, east of Paris, to attack a German headquarters at a Château at Roumont near Recogne in Belgium, some 250 kms away. His crew comprised Flight Sergeant G Busby and Leading Aircraftman L W Rutland. In the vicinity of the target the formation he was leading lost touch while flying through a storm, but Vernon went on to locate and bomb his objective. On the return flight he was attacked by six Messerschmitt 110s, but by skillful flying he evaded their initial attacks and his gunner was able to shoot down one Messerschmitt and set fire to another. However, the remaining fighters continued to attack and seriously damaged the British bomber. With its engine failing, the aircraft began to lose height rapidly and Vernon was forced to land in enemy territory near Avioth (Meuse), 6 km NNE of Montmedy, France. He assisted his wounded crew from the aircraft and set it on fire. A German patrol approached and took the wounded men prisoner, but Vernon managed to escape, reach the French lines, and make his way back to his unit. Sgt Busby was interned in Camp 357 (POW No.38248), and LAC Rutland in Camps 8B/L6/357 (PoW No.18162).
26th of May was the day that the evacuation of British forces in France was ordered to begin from Dunkirk. The evacuation was completed on 3 June, and on 13 June the Germans entered Paris. But just 12 days after he was shot down at Montmedy, Flying Officer Vernon was killed in action. With his crew Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Jack F. Atkins, RAFVR 751819, age 20, and Sergeant (Obs.) George W. Clawley, RAF 533480, age unknown. He took off on 7 June 1940 from Echemines, southeast of Paris, to attack a vehicle convoy at Vergies, near Abbeville, south of Dunkirk, some 250 km away.
The aircraft failed to return, and Vernon and his crew were posted as missing. In due course his death was presumed to have occurred on 7 June 1940 as a result of air operations.
After the war it was established that he had been buried in the cemetery at Vergies. His grave is in Vergies Communal Cemetery Row 1. Grave 21. His crewmates are buried together in Graves 19-20. James was 24 years old.
