The Airmen's Stories - P/O D G Gorrie

David George Gorrie was born on 2nd January 1918, the son of John Young Gorrie and Jane Ann Gorrie.

Their home was Ardoch of Gallery, Montrose, a farm settled by the family in 1894. He attended Montrose Academy but left to look after the farm in 1934 when his father died.

In June 1938 Gorrie joined the RAFVR as an Airman u/t Pilot and began his weekend flying at 11 E&RFTS Perth.

Called to full-time service on 1st September 1939, he was posted to 4 ITW Bexhill and from there he moved on to 10 FTS Ternhill for No. 17 Course which began on 9th December 1939.

With his training completed, Gorrie arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 27th May 1940 and after converting to Hurricanes joined 43 Squadron at Tangmere on 9th June.

On 3rd July Gorrie became lost after chasing a Do17 and made a forced-landing at Aldeburgh. He was unhurt and his Hurricane was undamaged.

On 12th July he shared a He111, on the 13th he shared another, on 16th August he probably destroyed three Ju87s, on the 26th he damaged a He111 and on 6th September he claimed a Me109 destroyed.

Gorrie was posted away from 43 Squadron to 2 CFS Cranwell on 8th December 1940 for an instructors course. Afterwards he was posted to 2 FTS Brize Norton.

On 8th April 1941 Gorrie was aloft in Oxford I V3879 with his pupil, LAC J Morris, when their aircraft collided with another. They were both killed, the other instructor and his pupil were unhurt.

Gorrie is buried in Brechin Cemetery.