F/O R. H. "Roy" Payne of 609 Sqn.

[Tom Semenza]

Can anyone confirm the ID of F/O R. H. Payne of 609 Sqn.?

Per the ORB, he was posted in to 609 from OTU on 30.06.42 along with P/Os Peter Raw and H.L. Gilbert. In Ziegler's The Story of 609 Squadron all three are described as "re-mustered Army officers" and "Roy" Payne as "veteran of Dunkirk," although the ORB only says "all previously in the Army."

On 14.02.43 when he claimed a FW 190, the ORB refers to Payne as "Scottish." Payne's last op. was on 15.07.43 and he was posted out officially to Bristol Aircraft on 20.08.43.

In Franks & Muggleton's Raw Courage, he is also referred to as "Roy Payne" and had gone through training with Peter Raw at 8 FTS and 55 OTU. According to this source Payne was commissioned in Feb. 1942.

Consulting both the London Gazette and the Air Force List reveals no GD RAF officer named "Roy Payne." The only H. R. Payne that seems to fit is:

656682 Robert Hugh Payne (48355)

Although his original commissioning notice was gazetted on 28 April 1942 w.e.f. 25 March 42. This was later amended on 20 Oct. 42 to be effective from 26 Feb. 42.

There is a dramatic Youtube video that show him belly landing a Typhoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4oA...IB21g6&index=1

Perhaps "Roy" was a nickname. Any comments would be welcome.

Regards,
Tom