The Airmen's Stories - P/O J H Duart

John Howard Duart was born in Mathon, Herefordshire on 30th September 1905. He attended Mrs. Cooks School, Gloucester from 1909 to 1911, Wadham House School, Hove from 1912 to 1920, Brighton College in 1920/21 and De Beer's School in 1922 for book-keeping and typing.

From 1920 Duart operated a small egg and poultry business. He went to Iquique, Chile in 1923 and worked in the offices of Nitrate Agencies Ltd. He returned to England in 1926 and later in the year went to Maracaibo, Venezuela, where he worked for the Caribbean Petroleum Co.

In 1931 Duart returned to England and began farming at Broad Oak Farm, Chiddingly. He became an articled clerk with a chartered accountant in 1938.

Duart obtained his pilot's 'A' License in 1938 and joined the Civil Air Guard in 1939. After the outbreak of war he volunteered for aircrew duties and, being considered too old for pilot training, was commissioned as a direct-entry Air Gunner in February 1940.

After completing a gunnery course at No. 1 AGS Manby Duart was posted to 219 Squadron at Catterick on 16th March. He did a Gunnery Leaders course in May and rejoined the squadron on 18th June.

Duart served with 219 throughout the Battle of Britain.

In April 1942 he went on a Senior Armament Officers course at Manby, after which he became Station Armament Officer at RAF Turnberry and later at Long Kesh. In October 1943 he was posted to Canada and went to Penfield Ridge as Senior Armament Instructor.

In 1944 Duart returned to the UK and was with the Ministry of Defence in London until he was released on 23rd November 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant. He completed his articles and in May 1948 qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

For some years up to 1978 Duart was Hon Secretary and Treasurer of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association.

Duart died on 24th January 2007 aged 101.