The Airmen's Stories - P/O J F Soden

John Flewelling Soden joined the RAF on a short service commission in August 1939. With training completed at 9 FTS, he arrived at 5 OTU, Aston Down on June 10th 1940. After converting to Spitfires he was posted to 266 Squadron at Wittering on June 26th. On August 15th Soden shared in destroying a He115 floatplane. In combat with Me109’s over Canterbury the next day his Spitfire K9864 was severely damaged and he made a forced-landing near Oare, Faversham, slightly wounded in the legs. On September 14th Soden was posted to 603 Squadron at Hornchurch. He claimed Me109’s destroyed on September 30th and October 10th. Following a combat with Me109’s over the Sussex coast on the 25th Soden baled out and injured his right leg landing at Perryfields. He was admitted to East Sussex Hospital, Hastings. His Spitfire, P7325, crashed at Stonelink Fann, Brede. Soden was lost in the troopship SS Laconia, sunk by a U-boat on September 12th 1942. He is remembered on the Alamein Memorial.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo