The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R D Dunscombe

Raymond Douglas Dunscombe was born in Croydon on 11th November 1918, the son of William Albert Dunscombe (1882-1946) and Alice Young (1895-1976) of Croydon, Surrey.

He worked on the London Stock Exchange before the war.

He joined the RAFVR in July 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training, converted to Hurricanes at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge and was posted to 213 Squadron on 8th June 1940.

Above: Dunscombe is at far right.

Dunscombe claimed a Me110 destroyed on 15th August. In late August Dunscombe was posted to 312 Squadron, then being formed at Duxford. On 17th September his aircraft was damaged in combat and he baled out, sustaining serious injuries when he landed in a tree. His Hurricane, V7228, crashed at Paley Farm, Folly Hill near Cranbrook.

Commissioned in November 1940, Dunscombe underwent plastic surgery at some time at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead and was a Guinea Pig.

Dunscombe was killed in Crete on 31st May 1941, as a Pilot Officer with 33 Squadron. His name is on the Alamein Memorial.

Dunscombe was recorded as fighting alongside NZ troops and RAF groundcrew at Maleme airfield on the 20th May and is commemorated on a memorial to 30 and 33 squadrons sited near the airfield.

Above photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo

Above photographs courtesy of J Keith Baker