Lt/A Peter P Constable DSC RN – 103 Squadron / 759 Squadron – HMS Heron - WW2
Killed in training accident – 12 July 1944 – Miles Master II - AZ559.
M/mn P Constable RN Terence was temporarily posted from the Fleet Air Arm to 103 Squadron at RAF Newton on their return from France in 1940. Other FAA pilots posted to 103 at this time were Sub Lt ( A ) Robert A De Sandoval-Sievier RN, M/mnTerence O'Donovan RN and M/mn D J McDonald RN
During his short period with 103 Squadron he flew the following operations :-
09-Sep-40 – Calais - Invasion barges – Battle – L5336 – M/mn Constable RN - Airfield under air raid alert on return. Bombs dropping in vicinity
14-Sep-40 – Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – P2306 – M/mn Constable RN - Bad weather at base. Diverted to Feltwell
22-Sep-40 – Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – L5038 – M/mn Constable RN - Port bomb doors failed to open. Hit by light flak.
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On the 12 January 1941 O'Donovan, Constable and McDonald were posted to No 3 S of G R Squires Gate, Blackpool
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Peter Constable of 759 Squadron was awarded a DSC Gazetted DSC 24 August 1943 for destruction of enemy aircraft shadowing a convoy 24 June 1943
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12/07/1944 - 759 Sqn, Yeovilton - Miles Master II AZ559 with Lt P Constable and S/L TM Smart collided with Miles Master II DK943 with Lt B Ritchie and Mid PJ Dewing on air combat exercise. Crashed Sherborne, Dorset. All four were killed. Both Masters are described as having been transferred from the R.A.F.
Lt A Peter Constable DSC RN – Pilot – 23 – 759 Sqn - Son of Percy Stanley and Gertrude Constable, of Uckfield, Sussex – Yeovilton Churchyard RNAS Extension, Somerset.
It is a sad sobering thought that none of the 4 Royal Navy pilots temporarily attached to 103 Squadron in 1940 survived the war.
Compiled by David Fell with photo from my archive
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