The Airmen's Stories - P/O D L Bisgood

Douglas Leonard Bisgood was born in Acton, London on 10th March 1918 into a family named Tomley but was adopted by Colonel TH Bisgood MBE MM JP in undocumented circumstances.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in April 1939. He completed his flying training and joined 3 Squadron in late 1939.

In May 1940 3 Squadron was based at Merville in France. On the 18th Bisgood took part in an attack on Do17's of 2/KG76 near St.Quentin. His Hurricane L1940 was hit by return fire and he had to force-land, unhurt, near Douai.

At Wick on 23rd July 1940 he was taking off in Hurricane P2862 when it collided with Hudson P5152 of 269 Squadron, both crashing on the aerodrome.

The Hudson caught fire and all the occupants were killed (F/Lt. CDW Price, P/O JTT Fleming, P/O W Appleby and Sgt L Land), Bisgood was seriously injured and spent a considerable time in hospital.

Back in service, he was posted to a long-range weather reconnaisance unit and in early 1942 Bisgood was awarded the DFC (gazetted 2nd January 1942) for carrying out a large number of met flights, often in unfavourable weather conditions. On one occasion he saw three enemy bombers, engaged one and shot it down into the sea. At the time of the award he was credited with three enemy aircraft destroyed.

Bisgood survived the war but stayed in the postwar RAF and was killed on 18th April 1947 as a Squadron Leader with 202 Squadron. Halifax ST807 took off from Aldergrove for an early morning weather reconnaissance flight to the west of Ireland. Less than a hour later it signalled that it was returning to base as its radio navigation equipment, essential for following the correct data recording course and altitudes, was unserviceable.

Nothing more was heard and an extensive three day search found nothing.

Also lost were:

Sig.II D James
P/O JS Anderson
Eng.II S Baldwin
Nav.II PB Higgins
F/Lt. DJ McMahon
Eng.II R Miles
Sig.II F Orwin
F/Sgt. AA Thompson

All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Bisgood on panel 286. He was 27.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner