The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. H C Sawyer

Henry Cecil Sawyer was educated at Dover College and entered RAF College, Cranwell in January 1933 as a Flight Cadet. After graduation in December 1934, he joined 142 Squadron at Andover. He was posted to the staff of the Electrical and Wireless School at Cranwell on 30th May 1936 and moved to the staff of RAF College there on 16th July 1938.

In early 1940 Sawyer was on the staff of 9 BGS. He was posted from there to 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge, arriving on 27th May 1940 for a refresher course. After converting to Spitfires he went to 7 OTU, Hawarden on 15th June, the day the unit was formed, as OC 'B' Flight. Sawyer was posted to 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on 2nd July 1940 and took command on the 8th.

He was killed on 2nd August when he crashed on take-off from Hornchurch on a night patrol in Spitfire R6799, which burned out.

Sawyer was 25. He was cremated at the City of London Crematorium, East Ham.