The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J Hopewell

James Hopewell of Bingley, Yorkshire was born on 2nd September 1914, the son of Allen James and Jessie Hopewell.

He attended Bingley Grammar School. After leaving he was employed by the Bingley Building Society.

Hopewell joined the RAF about November 1933 as an Aircrafthand. He later applied for pilot training and was selected. He joined 616 Squadron at Leconfield in July 1940.

He had married Irene Hudson in Bingley on 25th June 1940.

Above: with 616 Squadron

F/O R Marples, F/O HSL Dundas, F/O HC Laycock, F/Lt. DE Gillam, P/O TB Murray, P/O LH Casson, Sgt. PT Wareing

Sgt. TE Westmoreland, Sgt. J Hopewell, F/Sgt. FP Burnard

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Above image courtesy of Colin Brown.

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He claimed a Ju88 destroyed on 15th August, a Me109 on the 30th, a Do215 on 1st September and a Me110 on the 2nd.

Hopewell was posted to 66 Squadron at West Malling on 14th October 1940, moving ten days later to 73 Squadron at Castle Camps. He then went to 151 Squadron at Digby on 7th November.

Operating from Wittering in Defiant N3388 on 23rd February 1941 Hopewell ran out of fuel, forcing both crew to bail out. Hopewell survived but the parachute of Sgt. JF Wallace RNZAF caught in the tail of the aircraft and he was killed. The Defiant came down near RAF Watton.

Hopewell was awarded the DFM (gazetted 24th June 1941).

He was killed on 21st January 1942 flying in Havoc I BD116 of 1452 Flight which flew into the ground at Mereworth near West Malling. Sgt. CW Cragg was seriously injured.

Hopewell is buried in Bingley Cemetery.