The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. S N Hawke

Stanley Nelson Hawke, of Stockwell, London joined 604 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force as an Aircrafthand and was called up on 24th August 1939. Retraining as an Air Gunner he arrived at Northolt in early July 1940 and served with 604 throughout the Battle.

Still with the squadron on May 4th 1941, Hawke and P/O PF Jackson were airborne in a Beaufighter and intercepted Ju88 6142 B3+AP of 6/KG54, sending it down to a crash-landing at East Burton, Dorset. The four crew were captured.

On May 29th 1941, Hawke, again with P/O Jackson and an Australian pilot who was new to the squadron carried out an air-sea firing exercise at Chesil Beach. Whilst they were there the clouds came in from the sea blanketing the Dorset hills. Instead of climbing above them Jackson flew through and crashed on high ground. All three men were killed.

Hawke was 25. He is buried in Streatham Park Cemetery, Mitcham, Surrey.