Sqn Ldr. John Rawsthorn Rainford DFC & Bar.
Royal Air Force B Flt. 83 Squadron
from:Catforth Nr Preston Lancs
(d.21st Feb 1942)
In August 1939, John Rainford (my great uncle) was commissioned into the Royal Air Force and was graded as Pilot Officer on 18th February 1940. He then moved to Oakham, Rutland where he was based at 14 Operational Training Unit. In September or early October 1940, John joined 83 Squadron RAF and was based at Scampton, Lincolnshire. The Operations Record Book lists the flights made by John Rainford from October 1940. He flew Handley Page Hampden bombers with a crew of three.
Operation Stavanger. 21st/22nd of February 1942 83 Squadron. Airborne 03:48 21 Feb 42 from Scampton as one of a five aircraft attack. Shot down by ME109 and crashed into the sea near Sola Airfield, Norway. Both pilots, along with P/O Smith, are buried in Sola Churchyard; the rest of the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/S Macgregor gained his DFM whilst serving with 44 Sqn. The award being Gazetted 22 Aug 41. This was the first Manchester lost by 83 Sqn since converting from Hampdens.
Crew:
- Pilot: Sqn/Ldr 42436 John Rawsthorn Rainford 28 DFC & Bar ('B'Flt CO) RAF killed
- Pilot: P/O 115300 Eric Alfred Warren RAFVR killed
- Nav: P/O 106563 Trevor Hardy Smith 32 RAFVR killed
- Flt/Sgt 552535 John Chales Macgregor 20 DFM killed
- Sgt 979103 Thomas Rodie Riddell 32 RAFVR killed
- Sgt 999390 Robert Harold Taylor 20 RAFVR killed
- Sgt 1076959 Peter James Jordan 19 RAFVR killed
