The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J F Armitage

Joseph Fox Armitage was born on 20th November 1918 in Nottingham and educated at a preparatory school in Leicestershire and Leighton Park School in Reading.

He took up flying at Tollerton Aero Club and was awarded his licence (below) on 4th June 1936, remaining at the club as an instructor, at the time the youngest person in that role in England.

Armitage joined the RAFVR in August 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He was called up on 1st September 1939 and after completing his training was posted to 7 B&GS Stormy Down as a staff pilot.

He went on to 4 Ferry Pilot Pool on 12th May 1940 but shortly afterwards went to France with the AASF, arriving on 29th May. The dates are uncertain but he joined 242 Squadron either in France or England but was serving with them at Coltishall in late June and remained with them until posted away in August to 234 Squadron.

He was still serving with 234 on 17th June 1941 when he was shot down in Spitfire IIa P7569 on a Roadstead sortie.

No trace of him was found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 35.

Additional research and all images courtesy of David Hallam at www.beeston-notts.co.uk.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner

His half-brother George Lionel Clack was lost as a Flight Lieutenant with 101 Squadron when Wellington III BJ698 was lost without trace on a raid to Kassel.

Also lost were:

P/O E Beale
F/Sgt. HE Roberts RCAF
F/Sgt. JJ Kincaid RCAF
Sgt. FD Chudleigh
Sgt. D Rowles