The Airmen's Stories - Sub/Lt. (FAA) I H Kestin

Ian Herbert Kestin, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was born on 24th July 1917. Before the war he was an instructor at the London Aero Club. He joined the Navy on 15th September 1939 and after training at HMS Daedalus and HMS Raven he joined 758 Squadron. In early 1940 Kestin volunteered for a Fighter course and on 27th May was sent on one at HMS Raven.

He was then attached to the RAF on 23rd June and posted to 7OTU Hawarden. Having converted to Hurricanes he was posted to 145 Squadron on 1st July. Kestin attacked a Hs126 ten miles south of Hastings on 1st August 1940. His Hurricane P3155 was hit by return fire and went down in the Channel.

Kestin, age 23, was reported Missing and is commemorated on the FAA Memorial, Lee-on-Solent.