The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. A J Lipscombe

Alfred John Lipscombe, of Edgware, Middlesex joined the RAFVR about August 1939 as an Airman u/t Wop/AG. Called up on September 1st he completed his training and joined 600 Squadron at Catterick on October 8th 1940, serving with them for the remainder of the Battle.

With the advent of Airborne Radar and the Beaufighter, Lipscombe retrained as a Radar Operator and teamed up with Flying Officer RS Woodward. In the late evening of May 3rd 1941 they destroyed a Ju88 near Shepton Mallet, which crashed at Moons Hill Farm, Stoke St Michael, Somerset.

On the night of May 9/10th their aircraft was set on fire, a long way out to sea, in an attack by another night fighter, probably of 604 Squadron. Woodward managed to fly it back over land and then he and Lipscombe baled out safely.

On July 9th they shot down a He111 near Abergavenny.

They were flying on September 20th 1941 when their Beaufighter IIF R2323 went into a spin near Corsham in Wiltshire. Woodward ordered Lipscombe to bale out. He did so and was killed. Woodward got away with a broken leg.

Lipscombe was 22. He is buried in Hendon Cemetery.