The Airmen's Stories - F/O D R Gamblen

Douglas Robert Gamblen was born in Gosport on 14th January 1915, the son of George Frederick Gamblen (1889-1970) and Florence Jessie Graham (1889-1964).

He was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1937.

Gamblen married Eileen Florence Foot in April 1939 in Gosport.

He was posted to 10 FTS Tern Hill on 9th May and after completing his training he joined the SHQ staff at Catterick on 10th June 1938.

He was serving with 41 Squadron at Catterick by early July 1940. On the 29th he was reported missing in Spitfire N3038 following a combat with Ju87s and Me109s over Dover.

Gamblen was 25. With no known grave he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 5.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner