The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J S Bucknole

John Stanley Bucknole was born in West Ham, London in July 1920, the son of John William Bucknole (1891-1959) and Ada Mary Bucknole (nee Fiford 1892-1952).

His father is shown in the 1939 register as a stoker, river transport. JS Bucknole joined the RAFVR in March 1939, as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He attended an RAFVR camp at Stapleford Abbotts in late June/early July 1939.

He was called up on 1st September and did his elementary flying at 16 EFTS Shoreham. He went on to 5 FTS Sealand on 16th June 1940 on No. 49 Course. he was posted to 54 Squadron at Catterick on 29th September 1940.

He was posted to 20 OTU on the 23rd December 1940 to train on bombers and on 2nd April 1941 went on to 103 Squadron, operating Wellingtons from Newton.

He completed several operations as a co-pilot then in late June 1941 he was given his own crew and completed 6 operations as captain in the next 4 weeks.

On 24th July 1941 he was killed when his Wellington IC N2770 crashed into the sea off Brest during a daylight raid on the Scharnhorst which was berthed near the port. Also lost were:

F/O R Shaw
F/Sgt. F Barker
F/Sgt. R Critchley
Sgt. GJ Beckwith
Sgt. EC McDonald RNZAF

Bucknole is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 40.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.