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Military
Flt Lt John Van Liew Flynn, 71 Eagle Squadron at Martlesham Heath - picture supplied by Sarah Burwood Sister-in-Law
Enlisted RCAF, Joined RAF, assigned to 71 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. Missing from sweep to St.Omer in Spitfire Vb BM206 27-4-42 F/O John F Flynn Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Pilot Officer | Pilot
Joined RAFVR, service pilot training in US, shipped overseas to ETO, operational training at OTU, assigned to 71S, Bf109 damaged shared 15-5-41, Hurricane Mk I damaged friendly fire !! [John Flynn] 15-5-41.
Squadron
'On 19 September 1940, No. 71 was reformed at Church Fenton as the first 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American personnel. The Squadron received Hurricanes in November and became operational on defensive duties on 5 February 1941. No. 71 converted...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BM206 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
Delivered to No 5 MU 23-3-42, assigned to 71S 20-4-42, Missing from sweep to St.Omer 27-4-42 P/O J F Flynn killed, SOC.
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots...
Military site : airfield
Used as an RFC and RAF Home Defence landing ground during the First World War, Kirton-in-Lindsey was built during 1938-40 as an RAF fighter station. It had two grass runways, 10 hardstandings, three grouped C hangars and four over-blister hangars....
Military site : airfield
Opened in 1917 as home to the RFC Aeroplane Experimental Unit, Martlesham Heath became well known during the 1920s-30s as home to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment. Used as an RAF fighter station from 1939, with only a grass airfield...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Washington, DC, USA | |
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Born Son of Bernard J. and Dorothy Van Lien Flynn,of Washington, DC, USA. |
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| Enlisted | Canada | 1941 |
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Enlisted in RCAF. |
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| Joined RAF | England, UK | 1941 |
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Joined Royal Air Force. |
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| Assigned | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 1941 |
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Assigned to 71 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. |
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| E/A Kill | Dunkirk, France | 19 September 1941 |
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Claim 1 x Bf109F destroyed, Rhubarb mission Dunkirk - Dover. |
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| Died | Saint-Omer, France | 27 April 1942 |
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Missing from sweep to St.Omer in Spitfire Vb BM206 27-4-42 P/O John F Flynn Killed in Action (KIA). |
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| Buried | Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, Cooper's Hill Ln, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0LB, UK | |
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Tablets of the missing, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 November 2018 16:45:27 | MHAS Museum Manager | Changes to place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
From Sarah Burwood - Sister-in-Law |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 October 2015 22:33:26 | Al_Skiff | Changes to service number, biography, awards, events and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 September 2015 09:34:45 | Al_Skiff | Changes to highest rank, role and events |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2015 23:20:55 | Al_Skiff | Changes to nickname |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2015 23:13:29 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2015 22:56:35 | Al_Skiff | Changes to highest rank, biography, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:16:00 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Combat Chronology / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |
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