The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. C E P Castle
Colin Ewart Patrick Castle was born on 21st March 1916 in Clarkston, Lanarkshire, the son of Eric Castle and Robina Castle. His father was a commercial traveller.
CEP Castle joined the RAFVR in September 1939. He remustered as an Airman u/t Air Gunner and after completing his gunnery course he was serving with 235 Squadron by 31st March 1940 as an AC2 Air Gunner.
He was posted to 219 Squadron at Catterick in June 1940 and served with it in the Battle of Britain.
On 13th November 1940 he was aloft from Redhill in Beaufighter 1f R2071 in daylight when it was seen to emerge from cloud with both engines stopped and crash on the bank of the River Eden outside Edenbridge. Castle and his pilot, P/O T Birkett, were killed.
Castle is buried in Cathcart Cemetery, Renfrewshire.
His brother Sgt. EA Castle was killed when Beaufort N1151 of 22 Squadron was lost on a patrol to Terschelling on 22nd January 1941. Also lost were:
F/O DGG Coles, F/O VS Padgham and Sgt. HDF Hewett.
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In December 2014 a commemorative plaque was unveiled in the church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Edenbridge (below).
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