The Airmen's Stories - P/O S S Duff

Stanley Sutherland Duff was born on 9th August 1920 and joined the RAF on a short service commission in April 1939. He did his initial training at 12 E&RFTS Prestwick and was posted to 11 FTS Shawbury on 22nd July 1939. He arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 11th March 1940 and remained there until 23rd June when he joined 23 Squadron at Wittering.

He served with them throughout the Battle.

On 19th June 1941 Duff went to 1451 Flight at Hunsdon, recently-formed with Turbinlite Havocs. He was posted to 141 Squadron at Acklington on 10th February 1942, flying Beaufighters on night operations.

Duff flew from Lyneham on 23rd January 1943 to the Reinforcement Pool at Setif, North Africa from where he joined 153 Squadron at Maison Blanche on 13th February. For his work with the squadron in the night defence of Algiers and Bone, Duff was awarded the DFC (gazetted 20th August 1943).

He returned to the UK in July 1943 and was posted to No. 1 ADU at Croydon on 8th August. When the unit moved to North Weald on 4th July 1944, Duff was appointed CO.

He was attached to HQ Fighter Command for three months in early 1945, went on a course to 2 FIS Montrose on 4th April, moved to 5(P)AFU at Tern Hill on 7th July as an instructor and was released from the RAF at Uxbridge on 1st December 1945 as a Squadron Leader.

Duff died on 23rd March 2008 in Littlehampton.