The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. I K J Bidgood

Ivor Kenneth Jack Bidgood, from Bristol, was born in early 1918, the son of Oliver Frank Bidgood and Gwendoline Louise Hocking.

He was educated at Bristol Grammar School. He was then employed by the Alliance Insurance Company.

Bidgood joined the RAFVR about May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He was called up on 1st September 1939 and was posted to 5 FTS Sealand on 6th November 1939 on No. 44 Course.

With his training completed he arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 18th May 1940. After converting to Hurricanes he joined 213 Squadron at Wittering on the 25th. He flew his last operational sortie with the squadron on 21st August 1940.

Bidgood was killed on 2nd June 1941 aged 23, serving as a Flight Sergeant at 56 OTU at Sutton Bridge.

His aircraft, Hurricane P3162, collided with a Hurricane flown by F/Sgt. JT Craig (also a Battle veteran) over Terrington St. John, near Kings Lynn. Craig was also killed.

Bidgood is buried in Canford Cemetery, Bristol.