The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. P Copeland

Percy Copeland joined the RAFVR about July 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on September 1st 1939, he completed his training and joined 616 Squadron at Leconfield in early 1940. Over Dunkirk on June 1st he damaged a He111. On August 26th he was shot down in a surprise attack by a Me109. He made a forced-landing in Spitfire K9827 which burned out at Crundale House Farm, Wye. Copeland was wounded and admitted to Ashford Hospital. On October 14th 1940 he was posted to 66 Squadron at West Malling, moving ten days later to 73 Squadron at Castle Camps. Copeland joined 151 Squadron at Digby on November 7th 1940. On the 9th he and Flying Officer KH Blair intercepted a Do17 on a pre-dawn sortie over the east coast off Skegness. Although they claimed it as destroyed, it reached Gilze-Rijen with two of the crew wounded. Commissioned in November 1941, Copeland was serving with 250 Squadron in the Western Desert in mid-1942. On June 26th he was flying one of three Kittyhawks of the squadron as part of an escort for Bostons west of Matruh. The Kittyhawks were attacked by Mc202’s. Copeland failed to return from this operation. He was 25 and is remembered on the Alamein Memorial.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo