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The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. F Gash

 

Fred Gash was born on 10th May 1915 in Rochdale and attended Manchester Grammar School.

He was awarded Aero certificate 14005 on 28th June 1936 at the Lancashire Aero Club, his ID photo below.

 

Gash joined the RAF in September 1939 as an Airman u/t Air Gunner. He completed his training and joined 264 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey in August 1940.

Gash teamed up with P/O FD Hughes and on 26th August they destroyed two Do17s in daylight.

In the early hours of the morning of 16th October they destroyed a He111 over Brentwood and then overshot the runway in mist on return to Luton. Both were unhurt.

During the night of 23rd November they attacked a He111 but Gash's turret jammed and it was only claimed as a probable. Hughes and Gash destroyed a He111 on 12th March 1941, damaged another on 8th April and destroyed a Ju88 on the night of the 10/11th.

 

 

Above (L to R) : Gash, F/O FD Hughes and P/O FC Sutton.

 

Gash was awarded the DFM (gazetted 18th April 1941) and Hughes the DFC.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented though a Manchester newspaper in February 1943 reports him serving with an ASR Squadron. He was commissioned in May 1943 from Warrant Officer and released from the RAF in 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant.

 

Gash died in June 2002 in Chelmsford.


Battle of Britain Monument