Flt Sgt Jammy Payne 501 Squadron 1940

[Tom Semenza]

As an aside, Paul's listing of NCO pilots appears to solve another 501 mystery man. Namely Arthur Owen Lewis. In the past he has been listed as "A. A. Lewis." The Watkins/Listemann book has him so listed without further detail. Further both Brian Cull in First of the Few and Norman Franks in RAF Fighter Command Losses, Vol. 1 show "Sgt. A. A. Lewis" as MiA on 08 June 40 in Hurricane I P3347 (SD-N). However as both point out he is not listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commision, nor is Arthur Owen Lewis. Interestingly, his loss in not noted by Watkins & Listemann, nor is it found in Peter Cornwell's The Battle of France Then and Now.

I have found him listed as a PoW on the RAF Commands website listing:

357 47913 Lewis A O 566649 RAF

Tom

[Chris Goss]

I know we are going off piste but can confirm that Sgt A O Lewis was lost with 501 Sqn on 8 Jun 40 near Decima (?). However, first note of being POW did not come until 6 Feb 41 when he wrote to his father saying he was at Eughien (?) in Belgium. Official confirmation came 25 Mar 41 when he was in Stalag Luft 2

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo,

Not sure if this has been posted already but the AIR 81 file for Sgt. A.O. Lewis is number 829. The Hurricane serial is not listed on the index and unfortunately, in my limited experience of AIR 81 files, if a serial is not shown on the index it usually is not contained in the body of the file.

'Decima' was the RAF codename for Echemines airfield in the 'South Champagne area' of France. (From the AIR 35/63 file at Kew).

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,
From the book "One Pilot's War" by W.A.Wilkinson;:- On 15 th June the
Author (who had joined 501 as a new Sgt Pilot on 22 May) flew a barely flyable Hurricane from Caen to Tangmere with 3 other u/s Hurricanes led by
Senior pilot F/Sgt "Jammy" Payne on arrival they were greeted by S/Ldr.G.Lott of 43 Sq and briefly attached to that unit (Lott and Payne being old acquaintances) after 3 days leave the author and "Jammy" rejoined 43 but were then ordered to fly 2 Hurricanes to Croyden to rejoin 501. Between then and July 4th when 501 moved to Middle Wallop several of the original pilots were posted to OTU's "Jammy" probably being one of them.

[paulmcmillan]

Bruce


Thanks or that

Alsoo, there is a picture of 91018 F/Sgt. Alfred Alexander Payne in Geoffrey Wellums “First Light” so he must have either been on 92 Sqn at some time or he was on the same station. I think this was at Croydon ?


Wellum joined 92 Sqn May 1940, and Payne was in France by 11th May so this must have been AFTER the Battle Of France -

So "rejoined 43 but were then ordered to fly 2 Hurricanes to Croyden to rejoin 501. Between then and July 4th when 501 moved to Middle Wallop several of the original pilots were posted to OTU's "Jammy" probably being one of them."

He was in photo with P/O John Samuel Bryson and Sgt Peter Raoul Eyles

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...=payne&f=false


Bryson was killed 24th Sept 1940 and Eyles on 20th Sept

I suspect he was on 92 Sqn but when ? So the photo had to be taken between June and Sept 1940 but based on email above maybe June to July 1940 if Payne only on 501 at time

So did Payne move to 92 Sqn or was he in photo when he shared field while with another Sqn

Wellums account I think suggest Payne on 92 Sqn



Would indicate that Paynes was either in 92 Sqn at a time or 501 Sqn at Croydon

[paulmcmillan]

Brad

I hope you see this


I don't suppose you have the Service history or Log Book of your grandfather 91018 F/Sgt. Alfred Alexander Payne and can tell us where he served in May to Oct 1940 ?

I note your father Alec served in 81 Sqn 1952-55

Many thanks

Paul