The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J T Craig

John Teasdale Craig of Witton-le-Wear, County Durham was born in April 1914 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, the son of Robert William and Elizabeth Craig.

He went to Wolsingham Grammar School, joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in January 1930 and passed out in December 1932 as a Fitter, Aero Engines.

Craig successfully applied for pilot training and was serving as a Sergeant Pilot with 111 Squadron at the outbreak of war.

Over Dunkirk on 24th May 1940 he claimed a Me110 destroyed and on the 31st a Me109. On 10th July he probably destroyed two Do17s, on the 25th damaged a Me109, on 13th August claimed a Do17 shot down, on 15th August a Me110 destroyed, three Ju88's and a Do17 probably destroyed and three Do17s damaged.

Craig shot down a Do17 on the 16th, damaged another on the 18th and damaged a Me110 on the 30th.

Craig was shot down in combat with Me110s over Felixstowe on 31st August. He baled out, injured, and was admitted to Epping Hospital. He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 6th September 1940) being then credited with at least eight enemy aircraft destroyed.

He was killed on 2nd June 1941 in a mid-air collision, instructing at 56 OTU. His Hurricane I W9114 collided with Hurricane I P3162, also of 56 OTU, flown by Sgt. IKJ Bidgood (also a Battle veteran) over Terrington St. John in Norfolk. Bidgood was also killed.

Craig was 27. He is buried in Witton-le-Wear Cemetery, County Durham.

Above image courtesy of Dimitrios Corcodilos.