The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. A J Lipscombe

Alfred John Lipscombe was born in Walthamstow on 1st November 1919, the son of Alfred and Elizabeth Mary Ann Lipscombe.

He joined the RAFVR about August 1939 as an Airman u/t Wop/AG.

Called up on 1st September he completed his training and joined 600 Squadron at Catterick on 8th October 1940, serving with them for the remainder of the Battle.

With the advent of Airborne Radar and the Beaufighter, Lipscombe retrained as a Radar Operator and teamed up with F/O RS Woodward. In the late evening of 3rd May 1941 they destroyed a Ju88 near Shepton Mallet, which crashed at Moons Hill Farm, Stoke St Michael, Somerset.

This was a Ju88A-5, 8161 M7+AH of 1./806. Lt. G Gerlach, Oberfw. F Schafer, Fw. W Kramer and Fw. H Soland all baled out and were made PoW.

Woodward gave credit for the kill to Lipscombe (below).

On the night of 9/10th May their aircraft was set on fire, a long way out to sea, in an attack by another night fighter, probably of 604 Squadron. Woodward managed to fly it back over land and then he and Lipscombe baled out safely.

On 9th July they shot down a He111 near Abergavenny.

They were flying on 20th September 1941 when their Beaufighter IIF R2323 went into a spin near Corsham in Wiltshire, seemingly due to instrument failure (see report below).

Woodward ordered Lipscombe to bale out. He did so and was killed. Woodward followed and survived with a broken leg.

Lipscombe was 21. He is buried in Hendon Cemetery.

Additional research and images courtesy of Steve Maddock (nephew).