The Airmen's Stories - P/O H A C Evans

Harold Arthur Charles Evans was born on 21st January 1920 in Essex and joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he went to 4 ITW Bexhill until 20th November 1939, when he was posted to 11 Air Observers Navigation School on No. 1 Air Observer Course. The course ran from 20th November 1939 to 9th March 1940, after which Evans was posted to a B&GS, number unknown.

He was commissioned in early May 1940 and served as a navigator in Wellingtons of 3 GRU on mine-sweeping operations. Evans then joined 236 Squadron at Thorney Island on 15th July 15 and was still serving with the squadron on 8th November 1940.

His regular pilot was P/O ARdeL Inniss. Evans went to Canada in early 1941 and trained in the US on Boeing B-17s, after which he returned to Canada and did an astro-navigation course.

He acted as navigator on the first Hudson aircraft to make the crossing from Gander to Prestwick, an 18 hour flight. Evans was released from the RAF in 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He died on 4th July 2010 in Somerset.