The Airmen's Stories - P/O J P Lloyd

John Phillip Lloyd was born on 1st March 1916 and joined the RAFVR about July 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 10 FTS Ternhill on No. 19 Course, which ran from 11th April to 24th July 1940.

He was commissioned in July and was posted to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum on 27th July.

Above: 21 Squadron in 1944

Below L to R: Lloyd, F/Lt. MJW Benn (KFA 23/6/44), F/O WA Roe DFC

Above images courtesy of John Donkersley.

Lloyd arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 5th August and after converting to Spitfires was posted to 64 Squadron at Leconfield about the 20th and flew his first operational sortie on the 24th.

He moved to 72 Squadron at Croydon on 11th September. Lloyd destroyed a Me109 on the 14th and damaged a He111 on the 15th.

His Spitfire, P9368, was seriously damaged in combat with Me109s on the 18th and Lloyd made a forced-landing at Martin Mill, Dover, seriously wounded.

Lloyd was posted to RAF Biggin Hill as non-effective sick. His next recorded posting was to RAF Middle Wallop on 21st December 1940 but the details are unknown. He was awarded the AFC (gazetted 1st January 1943).

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until 8th August 1944 when he was serving with 21 Squadron at Thorney Island and took off on a night intruder sortie over Normandy. His Mosquito FBVI NS978 came down, cause unknown, and Lloyd and his navigator, F/O WA Roe DFC, were made prisoner.

Lloyd was released from the RAF in 1945, as a Squadron Leader.

He died on 8th August 1971 in Basingstoke.