Battle of Britain Monument Home THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN LONDON MONUMENT Battle of Britain London Monument
The Battle of Britain London Monument "Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed
by so many to so few
."
Site of Battleof Britain London Monument Work in Progress London Monument Site Drawing of Battle of Britain London Monument
Battle of Britain London Monument Home    
   

The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. S D P Connors

 

Stanley Dudley Pierce Connors was born on 8th April 1912, the son of Pierce Frederick John Patrick Connors (??-1912) and Norah Muriel Connors (nee Norris).

He was educated at St. Pauls School, Darjeeling, India.

Connors was commissioned in the Special Reserve of the RAF in March 1936. He resigned this commission when the Special Reserve was converted to the Auxiliary Air Force.

He received a five-year commission in 500 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in May 1936. He relinquished this on being granted an RAF short service commission in December 1937.

He was posted to 5 FTS Sealand on the 20th and with his training completed Connors joined 111 Squadron at Northolt on 27th June 1938.

 

 

 

Above: 111 Squadron in 1938

L to R: P/O PA Mortimer, Sgt. Smith, Sgt. WL Dymond, F/O ML Robinson, P/O JG Sanders, P/O RG Dutton, S/Ldr. J Gillan, F/O RPR Powell, F/O CS Darwood, P/O SDP Connors

****************

 

Connors married Marjorie Violet White in mid-1940.

The squadron began flying patrols over France on 18th May 1940 and on that day Connors destroyed a Ju88 and a Me109. On the 19th he claimed three He111s and a Ju88 destroyed and on the 31st he possibly shot down another Me109.

He was appointed 'B' Flight Commander on 25th May with the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant and awarded the DFC (gazetted 31st May 1940).

On 2nd June Connors had an unconfirmed He111 over Dunkirk and on the 7th he claimed a Me109 destroyed, on 19th July he claimed a Me109, on the 25th another damaged and on the 31st he shared in the probable destruction of a Ju88.

Connors destroyed a Me109 on 11th August, destroyed a Ju88 and a Me110 and damaged another of each on the 15th, damaged a Do17 on the 16th and probably shot down a Do17 on the 18th.

In this last engagement Connors was shot down by anti-aircraft fire whilst attacking Do17s bombing Kenley. He was killed and his Hurricane, R4187, is believed to be that which crashed at The Oaks, Wallington.

After his death, the award of a Bar to the DFC was announced (gazetted 6th September 1940), the citation crediting him with twelve enemy aircraft destroyed.

Connors is buried in North Berwick Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Battle of Britain Monument