The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. S P Le Rougetel

Stanley Paul Le Rougetel, always known by his second name, was born on 18th May 1912 in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. He had three sisters - Joan, Phyllis and Kate.

His father Stanley Charles, originally from La Rocque, Jersey, had enlisted in the Second Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment and was killed in heavy fighting near Bligny, SW of Rheims on 29th May 1918 aged 32.

He is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery near Boulogne.

Stanley Charles Le Rougetel.

His mother Violet (nee Goodwin) died in the 1918 influenza epidemic and Stanley Paul and his sisters were brought up by foster parents, it is not known if they were kept together.

Paul's schooling is currently undocumented, it is known that he was commissioned in the RAFVR and began his initial training course on 8th March 1937. He completed his training during his years term of service.

He was attached to 43 Squadron from RAFVR Coventry on 6th February 1939 for advanced flying training. When the attachment ceased, Le Rougetel was posted to Reserve Command on 15th July as a flying instructor.

Recalled to full-time service on 26th August 1939, Le Rougetel initially joined 35 Squadron at Cranfield but he was later posted to 600 Squadron at Manston.

Le Rougetel joined 604 Squadron at Northolt on 13th March 1940 but rejoined 600 Squadron at Manston on 2nd April.

During night operations on 9th August his Blenheim, L8679, had engine failure and came under fire from British anti-aircraft defences. Le Rougetel and his gunner, Sgt. EC Smith, baled out.

Smith swam ashore at Westgate and Le Rougetel was fortunate to be picked up by the Margate lifeboat JB Proudfoot, the crew had glimpsed the luminous watch dial on the gift given to him by his fiancee on their engagement a short time earlier.

He married Hazel Marie Sherwood on 26th October 1940.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946. He rejoined in 1947 and was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1952 to 1955.

He and his family settled on the RNZAF Base at Ohakea, later moving south to Wellington.

Le Rougetel retired from the RAF on 11th February 1958 as a Squadron Leader, retaining the rank of Wing Commander. He was then taken on as Sales Director for the chemical company Dearborn Pittam.

He remarried in 1964, to Betty Margaret Kaye, they settled in Chester.

Le Rougetel died on 3rd April 2002.

Additional research and all images courtesy of his daughter Heather Angel, a noted wildlife photographer:

www.heatherangelphotography.co.uk