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The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D J Hunter

 

Douglas John Hunter was born on 21st October 1922 and joined 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force before the war as an Aircrafthand.

Called up on 24th August 1939, he remustered as an Airman u/t Air Gunner, completed his training and was serving with 29 Squadron at Digby in June 1940.

He flew with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain and in early November 1940 he was still flying as an Air Gunner.

 

 

However, by 22nd December he had retrained as a radar operator. On the 24th, flying with F/O CV Winn, their aircraft was shot down by a German fighter. Hunter was in hospital for two weeks before rejoining the squadron.

Commissioned in June 1941, Hunter was later serving with 89 Squadron in Egypt and Malta (below).

 

 

 

In early January 1943 he went with a detachment of 89 Squadron to India, which formed the nucleus of 176 Squadron, formed at Dum Dum on 14th January 1943, equipped with Beaufighters. The squadron's ground personnel arrived later by sea from the UK.

In August 1943 176 Squadron moved to Chittagong in Burma. Hunter left the squadron in early 1945 and returned to the UK. He became Navigation Officer at RAF Hunsdon.

Hunter was released from the RAF in 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant, and took up farming.

He died in July 1984.

 


 

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