The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. L H Schwind

Lionel Harold Schwind joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1936. He was posted to 11 FTS, Wittering on June 2nd and joined the staff of the Aircraft Depot, Dhibban, Iraq on April 3rd 1937. Schwind returned to the UK in September 1938 and was supernumerary at No 1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge from the 12th. He was later posted to an AACU.

On August 23rd 1940 Schwind arrived at 5 OTU, Aston Down and, after converting to Hurricanes, he joined 257 Squadron at Debden on September 1st.

He moved to 43 Squadron at Usworth on the 10th and then to 213 Squadron at Exeter on the 20th.

He was shot down and killed in combat with enemy fighters over Gatwick on September 27th 1940. His Hurricane, N2401, crashed on to Wildernesse Golf Course, Seal, near Sevenoaks.

Schwind was 27. He is buried in Crowborough Burial Ground, Sussex.

In 1980 a memorial plaque was placed at the site of the crash.