The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. H A Cordell

Horace Arthur Cordell was born on 23rd March 1915 in London and worked in his fathers bakery business. He joined the RAFVR about July 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot and flew at No. 1 E&RFTS Hatfield.

Called up on 1st September 1939, Cordell continued his training at No. 1 EFTS Hatfield from 29th March 1940, moved to 9 EFTS Ansty on 10th June and then went to 8 FTS Montrose on 20th June.

With his training completed, he arrived at 7 OTU Hawarden on 20th September 1940 to convert to Spitfires. He joined 64 Squadron at Leconfield on the 30th.

Cordell moved to 616 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 13th October and remained with it until 18th November 1940, when he joined 602 Squadron at Westhampnett. Next day Cordell escaped injury when his Spitfire overturned after landing on a muddy area of the airfield.

On 16th March 1941 he joined 54 Squadron at North Weald and on 22nd June Cordell went to 74 Squadron at Gravesend. He was posted to 56 OTU on 7th July as an instructor and was commissioned there.

Cordell joined 91 Squadron at Lympne on 9th December 1942 and then went to the MSFU at Speke on 21st January 1943. He made no operational launchings during his time at sea.

He was posted away to CGS Sutton Bridge on 8th August 1943 for a Pilot Gunnery Instructors course, after which he went to 10 Group Practice Camp on 30th September.

Cordell was posted to RAF Castletown on 29th March 1944 as Sector Gunnery Officer.

He was at 5 (P) AFU at Chetwynd and Ternhill from 4th July 1944 as a Gunnery Instructor and was then attached to 11 (P) AFU at Wrexham from 7th March to 7th April 1945.

Cordell was released from the RAF in 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He died on 24th July 1998 and is buried in South Petherton Cemetery, Somerset.