The Airmen's Stories - P/O F H King

Frederick Harry King, of Leicester, was born there on 26th December 1915, the son of Harry and Emily King. His father was a commercial traveller in leather.

He was educated at Stamford School. He went with his family to Canada for three years.

When he returned King joined the RAF in 1935 as an Aircrafthand. He remustered as an Airman u/t Air Gunner and was serving with 264 Squadron at Martlesham Heath in early 1940.

He had married Monica Humphreys in July 1939 at Basford, Nottinghamshire, they met when he was stationed at Hucknall.

King flew as Air Gunner to 264's CO, S/Ldr. PA Hunter. On 12th May they destroyed a Ju88.

Over Dunkirk on 27th May they destroyed a Me109 and shared a He111, on the 28th destroyed two Me109s, on the 29th a Me109, a Me110 and a Ju87 and on the 31st a Me109, a He111 and damaged another.

King was awarded the DFM (gazetted 14th June 1940) and commissioned from LAC on 21st June. King and Hunter were posted 'Missing' in Defiant N1535 after being last seen in pursuit of a Ju88 after an attack on Manston on 24th August 1940 .

King was 24 years old. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 9.

(Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner).