The Airmen's Stories - P/O J W Broadhurst

John William Broadhurst, from Crayford, joined the RAF in January 1939 on a short service commission. He did his elementary flying at 11 E&RFTS, Perth and in April went to 2 FTS, Brize Norton.

He was posted to 222 Squadron at its reformation at Duxford on October 5th 1939. Initially equipped with Blenheims, the squadron received Spitfires in March 1940. On May 29th, after a patrol over Dunkirk, Broadhurst failed to find Hornchurch in bad visibility, ran out of fuel and crash-landed.

On August 31st Broadhurst claimed a Me109 destroyed, on September 4th a Me109 and two more on the 7th and 27th. He was shot down on October 7th 1940 during an attack on enemy bombers. He baled out but fell dead at Longhurst.

His Spitfire, P9469, crashed and burned out at Baileys Reed Farm, Hurst Green, Salehurst.

Broadhurst was 23 years old. He is buried in Hornchurch Cemetery, Essex.