The Pilots of 41 Squadron RAF, 1939-1945

Surnames Commencing with D


Name DARLING, Edward Vivian 'Mitzi'
Number 740608 / 65979
Rank Sergeant Pilot / Pilot Officer
Nationality British
Born Wellington, India, 11 October 1914
Arrived 17 December 1939
Departed 12 June 1941
Decorations DFC (1941)
Notes Commissioned January 1941; KIA, 2 June 1942; remembered on Panel 65 of the Runnymede Memorial

Name DAVIDSON, John Sharpe
Number 401775
Rank Sergeant Pilot
Nationality Australian
Born Yarragon, Victoria, Australia, 3 January 1922
Arrived 26 November 1942
Departed Unknown
Decorations MiD (1945)
Notes Discharged as Flight Lieutenant, December 1945

Name DAVIES, David Douglas 'Daibach'
Number 122377
Rank Pilot Officer, Flying Officer
Nationality British
Born Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Wales, 18 August 1920
Arrived 18 November 1942
Departed ca. August 1943
Notes Commission relinquished on account of ill health, retaining Flying Officer, 18 February 1944

Name DOWNING, William George
Number 649040
Rank Flight Sergeant
Nationality British
Born Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, 6 March 1920
Arrived 3 November 1942
Departed ca. June 1943
Notes Born Northamptonshire, 6 March 1920; Staff Pilot with 41 Squadron; shot down in Malta-based 229 Sqdn. Spitfire, 8 miles south of Riposto, Italy, and captured; commissioned 1951; retired July 1968, retaining Squadron Leader

Name DRAPER, Gilbert Graham Fairley
Number 42742
Rank Pilot Officer, Flying Officer
Nationality British
Born Rutland, 7 December 1921
Arrived 29 September 1940
Departed 7 August 1941
Notes Commissioned October 1939; shot down & baled out near Lille, France, and captured, 7 August 1941; released 1945; died 1997

Name DUCHATEAU, Roger 'Chat'
Number 135896
Rank Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant
Nationality Belgian
Born Wonck (Liege), Belgium, 1 June 1914
Term 1 25 May-9 June 1943 (349 Squadron, 10 Jun.-2 Aug. 1943)
Term 2 3 August-24 November 1943 (att. RAF Hawarden, 14-17 Nov. 1943)
Decorations Knight & Officer in the Order of the Crown, Knight in the Order of Leopold II, Knight in the Order of Leopold, Commemorative Medal 1940-1945 with crossed swords, Medal of Military Combatant 1940-1945, and Croix des Evades (all are Belgian decorations)
Notes Discharged from RAF and joined Belgian Air Force, October 1946; Ministry of Colonies, July 1950-October 1953; died Tenerife, 21 January 1989

Name DUCKWORTH, Robert
Number 1425494
Rank Sergeant Pilot
Nationality British
Born Accrington, Lancashire, 7 February 1920
Arrived 19 January 1943
Departed Early 1943
Notes Died 16 October 1943 with 195 Squadron, aged 23; son of William and Lillie Duckworth of Alvaston, Derby; buried in Alvaston St. Michael Chruchyard

Name DUNSTAN, Bruce Paul
Number 1256932
Rank Sergeant Pilot
Nationality Australian in RAFVR (joined up in the UK)
Born Chelsea, Victoria, Australia, 11 September 1920
Arrived 16 January 1942
Departed 12 February 1942
Notes Returned early with engine trouble from action against German warships Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst in Channel, but failed to arrive; failed to return (missing, presumed dead) over Channel, exact fate unknown, 12 February 1942, aged 21; son of Horace J. & Helene J. Dunstan of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex; remembered on Panel 82 of the Runnymede Memorial

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