The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. R F Rimmer

Reginald Frank Rimmer was the son of a First World War Pilot, who later flew with Alan Cobham's Flying Circus. In the mid-thirties Mr Rimmer began a business giving pleasure flights in an Avro 504K from beaches along the Welsh coast and from suitable fields in Cheshire. During the war he test-flew new aircraft manufactured at Speke. In the thirties the family lived at Wirral, Cheshire and in 1940 were at Meols.

Reginald Rimmer joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1937. He was posted to 10FTS, Tern Hill on 9th May and joined 66 Squadron at Duxford on 27th November 1937. Over Dunkirk on 2nd June 1940 Rimmer damaged a He111. He was posted to 229 Squadron at Wittering later in the month. On 15th September Rimmer claimed a Do17 destroyed and shared a He111.

Rimmer was shot down and killed in combat with Me109's on the 27th. His Hurricane, V6782, exploded over Franchise Manor Farm, Burwash. Rimmer was 21 years old. He is buried in Grange Cemetery, Hoylake, Cheshire and is remembered on a memorial plaque at the farm near the crash site.

(Above photograph courtesy of Adrian Cork)