The Airmen's Stories - F/O D L Gould

Derrick Leslie Gould was born in Exmouth, Devon on 28th May 1919 and later lived in Madras, India. He returned to England to be educated at Bristol Grammar School.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training course on 25th July 1938. After completing his training he joined 98 Squadron from the School of Air Navigation, Manston on 14th August 1939 to fly Fairey Battles.

Gould went to France with the squadron on 16th April 1940. He moved to 226 Squadron, also in France with Battles, on 19th May 1940.

The squadron was withdrawn to Thirsk, Yorkshire on 16th June. Gould volunteered to serve in Fighter Command and he joined 32 Squadron at Acklington on 3rd September 1940.

He moved to 607 Squadron at Tangmere on the 22nd and to 601 Squadron at Exeter on 5th October.

He was serving with 213 Squadron, also at Tangmere, by 6th November and claimed a Me109 destroyed on 15th November.

In 1941 Gould was posted to the Middle East. He was attached to 274 Squadron at Gerawala in August and went to 33 Squadron there in October as a Flight Commander.

He took command of the squadron in December 1941 and led it until May 1942, when he went to HQ Middle East.

Gould was awarded the DFC (gazetted 18th September 1942).

He commanded 274 Squadron from July until October 1943.

Gould was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

He died in December 2001 in Torbay.

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His brother Lieutenant John Maxwell Gould was killed on 23rd January 1944 aged 26 while serving with the Royal Signals. He lies at Karachi War Cemetery.