The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J T Dunmore

Jack Townley Dunmore, of Egham, Surrey was born on 2nd January 1917, the son of Frederick Townley Dunmore and Edith Martindale.

He joined the RAFVR on 15th April 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939 he completed his training, converted to Spitfires at 7 OTU Hawarden and joined 266 Squadron at Wittering on 16th September 1940.

Dunmore moved to 222 Squadron at Hornchurch on 1st October. He shared in the destruction of a Me109 on the 15th but had to make a forced-landing at Hawkinge, having suffered some damage as well as running low on fuel.

Above: Dunmore married Gladys Muriel Fox.

On 5th May 1941 Dunmore, now a Flight Sergeant, was instructing in Master T8780 with pupil pilot P/O VC Arnold RCAF. The aircraft (from 58 OTU Balado Bridge (Grangemouth)) dived into the ground 3 miles north of Falkirk. Arnold was killed and Dunmore was admitted to Larbert Military Hospital seriously injured.

He died from his injuries on 17th May 1941 and is buried in the churchyard of The Annunciation, Chislehurst, Kent.