The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. M P Davies

Maurice Peter Davies was born on 6th April 1914 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. His father was a well-known sports cartoonist and MP Davies was a staff photographer for a Coventry newspaper when he joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and was posted to 5 OTU Aston Down on 17th August 1940.

After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to No. 1 Squadron at Northolt on 1st September. On 9th October he damaged a Ju88. Davies moved to 213 Squadron at Tangmere on 14th October 1940. On the 17th he damaged a Me109.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He married Phyllis Mirabel Waite in July 1949.

He must have rejoined the RAF or RAFVR in some capacity as in 1953 he was serving as a pilot with Leeds University Air Squadron. On 22nd July that year he was killed whilst flying in Chipmunk T Mk.10 WD350 which crashed at Park House Farm, Birkin, West Yorkshire when it failed to recover from a spin.

His pupil, Cadet Officer Elwin Diabler, was able to bale out safely.

Davies is buried in Kirkby Wharfe Churchyard.

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On 21st December 1942 his brother, F/O J Davies DFM, was lost in Stirling I W7632 MG-N of 7 Squadron, which came down at Jussecourt-Minecourt in France on a raid to Munich.

Also lost were:

P/O RW Henly
Sgt. J Ellis RNZAF
Sgt. LD Enright RNZAF
Sgt. BL Peterson RNZAF
Sgt. JJ Dixon
Sgt. FA O'Dwyer

All buried in Jussecourt-Minecourt Churchyard.