The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. A L M Deller

Alan Lawrence Martin Deller was born on 8th June 1920 in Lambeth, London and joined the RAFVR about October 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 5 FTS and arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 6th July 1940 to convert to Hurricanes.

43 Squadron 1940

L to R: Sgt. JP Mills, P/O CK Gray, P/O CA Woods-Scawen, Sgt. GW Jefferys, Sgt. ALM Deller, F/Lt.RC Reynell

On 3rd August Deller was posted to 43 Squadron at Northolt. On the 12th he made a forced-landing at Tangmere after an action over the Channel. On 7th September he baled out, unhurt, following a combat over Ashford. His Hurricane, V7309, crashed and burned out at Babylon Farm, Sutton Valence.

His subsequent service is currently unknown though he is recorded as marrying Audrie Elizabeth Scandrett of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada during the war years so it may be surmised that he had been posted to 32 SFTS at Moose Jaw to instruct.

Commissioned from Warrant Officer in February 1943, Deller was released from the RAF in 1946.

He and his wife landed at New York on 1st July 1947 and this points to him having emigrated as he died in California 3rd May 1996.

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September 2020 - Richard Stanley writes:

I just read your piece on Alan Deller. I met in him San Clemente in 1979 shortly before I commenced flying training. I distinctly recall him mentioning having flown either Tempests or Typhoons in the ground attack role at some stage in the war. I believe he also had a brief career in civil aviation on the DC3. When I met him he was still flying and owned a Rockwell 114 aircraft which he regularly flew to L.A.