The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D W Isherwood

Donald William Isherwood was born on 21st August 1920 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

His father, according to the 1911 census, worked in a shop as a hatter's assistant. In the 1939 register he was recorded as an electrical fitter. It is known that he spent some time at sea as a ship's electrician. At least one voyage was aboard the SS Fort St George of the Bermuda West Indies SS Company.

DW Isherwood enlisted on 21st May 1939 in 608 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force at Thornaby as an Aircrafthand. He began training as an air gunner and was called to full-time service on 24th August that year. He began flying on convoy patrols in the squadron's Ansons.

On 1st July 1940 he was posted to 29 Squadron from 5 BGS Jurby. His rank at that time was AC 2 but he was promoted to Sergeant on 17th July when he flew on his first operational sortie.

Isherwood retrained as a Radio Observer when the squadron changed from Blenheims to Beaufighters.

On the night of 8th/9th May 1941 his aircraft was engaged in an action over Cap Gris Nez and he was severely wounded in one leg, resulting in its eventual amputation.

Isherwood was discharged from the RAF on 21st November 1941 as a Flight Sergeant.

He died in May 1996 in Southampton.