The Airmen's Stories - P/O A R McL Campbell

Alan Roberts McLeod Campbell of Sorrento, British Columbia, Canada was a candidate for an RAF short service commission when he began his flying training with the RAF on 2nd June 1939.

He was posted to 3 FTS South Cerney on 25th September on No. 29 Course, which ended on 13th April 1940. With his training completed, Campbell joined 54 Squadron at Hornchurch.

L to R: F/O JL Allen, P/O EJ Coleman, F/Lt. DG Gribble, P/O AR McL Campbell

He was detached to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 27th April. After converting to Spitfires he was posted to PDC Uxbridge on 15th May for allocation to a squadron in France.

Instead he rejoined 54 Squadron on 25th May. On 7th July he made a forced-landing at Deal, slightly wounded, after an attack by Me109s. He claimed a Me109 destroyed and a Do17 damaged on 18th August. On the 24th he was slightly wounded in Spitfire X4019.

He did not fly again until 11th September when he made a non-operational flight of 40 minutes.

Campbell shot down a Me109 on 3rd March 1941 which crashed at Brenzett. In May 1941 Campbell was serving with the Merchaant Ship Fighter Unit at Speke.

He sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia on 10th June in the Empire Moon, the second ship to sail, which was equipped with a catapult Hurricane.

Campbell later served with 80,123 and 234 Squadrons.

He was released from the RAF on 30th October 1945 and joined the RCAF in August 1951.

Campbell retired in 1964 and died in September 1979.