The Airmen's Stories - AC1 J Lynch

James Lynch of Hetton-le-Hole, Durham was born in July 1921, the son of William Lynch (1888-1942) and Sarah Jane Lynch (nee Woodley 1889-1954).

The Bata Shoe Company heritage website records that James (nicknamed Benny, probably after the Scottish flyweight boxer famous at the time) was working in the Durham mines until January 1938, when he enrolled as a trainee at the Bata Industrial Training College in Tilbury, Essex.

Interviewed there in March 1939, he says 'the food and facilities at the hostel were simply grand'. At that time he was working as an edge-setter in Department 432.

He left two years later to join the RAF at the age of 18.

The website also records 'He was greatly missed when he joined the RAFVR not only by his workmates, but by the young ladies, as he was in great demand as a dancing partner at the functions organised by the Sports and Social Club, in which he took a keen interest being an all round sportsman'.

Lynch joined the RAF in December 1939 as an Airman u/t Air Gunner. He completed his training as a radar operator and was posted to 25 Squadron at North Weald in late September 1940.

His subsequent service is currently unknown but by early 1944 he was a Sergeant with 166 Squadron, operating Lancasters from Kirmington, Lincolnshire.

Lynch was killed on 22nd January 1944 aged 23.

Lancaster LM390 AS-F was lost without trace on sortie to Magdeburg.

Also lost were:

F/Sgt. A Caile
F/Sgt. JE Hands

Sgt. WJT Finch
Sgt. H Landau
Sgt. F Cottee
Sgt. L Collins

Lynch is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 233.

Above images courtesy of the Bata Shoe Company heritage website.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.