The Airmen's Stories - P/O C G St.D Jeffries

Charles Gordon St.David Jeffries was born on 1st March 1920 in Llanarth, then in Cardiganshire. His father had served with the Gordon Highlanders in WW1. He was employed as a works manager when he joined the RAF on a short service commission.

Jefffries began his initial training course at 11 E&RFTS Perth on 6th February 1939. In June he went to 2 FTS Brize Norton where he completed his training.

By November 1939 Jeffries was serving with 253 Squadron at Manston. He and other pilots were posted to 3 Squadron as reinforcements and arrived on 14th May. He was in action immediately and shared in the destruction of a Me110. He was then shot down in Hurricane L1908 near Rethel, NE of Rheims. Jeffries baled out unhurt and was back with the squadron on the 17th.

The squadron was withdrawn to Kenley on 20th May and moved up to Wick on the 23rd. On 21st July 1940 Jeffries went to Sumburgh where ‘B’ Flight was renumbered as 232 Squadron. On 23rd August he shared in the destruction of a He111 off Fair Isle, the squadron’s first victory.

Jeffries was posted away from 232 on 19th October 1940, on embarkation leave. He arrived at PDC Uxbridge and joined a draft of pilots who were destined for service in Malta. When this Malta posting did not materialise Jeffries was recalled to 232 Squadron on 11th November 1940. He was appointed ‘B’ Flight Commander on 16th December.

In April 1941 Jeffries was again bound for Malta and on the 27th he flew off HMS Ark Royal to Hal Far, Malta and joined 261 Squadron at Ta Kali. On 5th May he shared a Ju88. When ‘C’ Flight of 261 was merged into a newly-reformed 185 Squadron at Hal Far on 12th May Jeffries was appointed ‘A’ Flight Commander of the new squadron.

Above: 185 Squadron, Malta, August 1941, Jeffries below.

Above images courtesy of '185, The Malta Squadron' by Anthony Rogers ISBN 1-86227-274-3.

On 4th July he destroyed a Mc200 and damaged another, on the 9th he took part in a strafing attack on Syracuse seaplane base in which a number of aircraft were destroyed. On the 11th he claimed a Mc200 destroyed and another damaged and on 4th September he claimed another Mc200 probably destroyed and on the 30th he got another probable Mc202.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 26th September 1941).

Jeffries was posted to the Middle East in October 1941. He commanded 155 Squadron in India and Burma from November 1942 to November 1943. He probably destroyed a Japanese Oscar on 28th January 1943.

He was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 25th January 1944).

Jeffries stayed in the RAF after the war and was awarded a second Bar to the DFC (gazetted 22nd March 1955) for operations in Kenya against the Mau-Mau uprising.

Jeffries retired on 1st October 1967 as a Wing Commander.

He died in January 1985.