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The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G R Collett

 

George Richard Collett was born on 11th March 1916, the son of George Clemson Collett and Elizabeth Mary Arkcoll Collett, of Luton, Bedfordshire.

He joined the RAFVR in March 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He was called up on 1st September 1939 and after completing his training joined 54 Squadron on 15th July 1940.

 

 

 

He claimed a Me109 destroyed on the 24th but later that day he ran out of fuel pursuing another enemy aircraft and made a forced-landing on the beach at Dunwich. He was unhurt but his Spitfire N3192 was written off.

The official report recorded:

On 24th July 1940 54 Squadron was ordered to patrol Deal at 11:25 hours and subsequently intercepted a large formation of hostile machines off the North Foreland. Yellow section which included P/O Allen and Sgt. Collett were doing a rearguard patrol behind the squadron and were surprised by enemy fighters.

Sergeant Collett was flying as number 2 in yellow section and engaged the enemy aircraft that had shot down P/O JL Allen. He shot it down and then chased another out to sea using 12 boost. After a long chase he caught up with this second enemy aircraft, engaged it, and then, not knowing where he was, attempted to return to base by flying North and then West, eventually reaching the English Coast with only 5 gallons of petrol left. In attempting a force landing at Saxmundham he crashed and wrote off the aircraft, injuring himself severely and was admitted to hospital in Ipswich.

Collett's injuries are listed as Concussion, injuries to his jaw and abdomen.

 

Collett was killed in combat with enemy fighters on 22nd August 1940. His Spitfire R6078, crashed into the Channel off Deal. He was 24.

His body was washed ashore in Holland and he is buried in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery there.

 

 

Above image courtesy of Danielle Roubroeks.

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