The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J A Clandillon

James Albert Clandillon, from Ilford, Essex was born in January 1915 in West Ham, the son of James Papillion Clandillon and of Dorothy Florence Clandillon (nee Robinson).

He joined the RAFVR in April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He was called up on 1st September 1939 and after completed his training joined 219 Squadron at Catterick on 22nd August 1940 and served with it throughout the Battle.

He married Betty Eleanor Fell in January 1941.

In the evening of 13th March 1941 Clandillon and his radar operator, Sgt CW Dodge, were patrolling in a Beaufighter and intercepted a He111 that was bombing Southampton. They brought it down at Smokehill Farm, Shipley, Sussex.

Clandillon was commissioned in March 1942. Serving as a Flying Officer he was killed on 18th February 1943 when his Beaufighter VI V8564 of the Fighter Interception Unit was shot down in error at night by the Bedenham AA Site in Gosport. The navigator F/O Griffiths baled out unhurt.

He was 28 and is buried in Littlehampton Cemetery.

The crash site is marked by a memorial (below).