The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J Murray

James Murray was born in 1916, the son of James Murray (1887-1916) and Elsie Murray (nee Slater 1887-1967) of Buckie in Banffshire.

He joined the RAF in March 1935 as an Aircrafthand but was later accepted for pilot training. With his training completed, he arrived at 7 OTU Hawarden on 2nd September 1940 to convert to Spitfires.

He joined 610 Squadron at Acklington on 16th September 1940 and moved to 74 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 28th October.

Above: 610 Squadron in late 1940

F/Lt. J Ellis

Sitting on wing: P/O JG Lecky, Sgt. HR Clarke, Sgt. LR Carter, F/O CH Bacon, P/O GGF Draper, P/O BW Brown, Sgt. AC Baker, Sgt. WJ Corbin, P/O WA Douglas, Sgt. FG Horner

Standing: P/O AE Davies, F/Lt. PG Lamb, Sgt. RF Hamlyn, F/O COJ Pegge, P/O DE Mileham, F/Lt. ILMcG Hallam, F/O PJ Davies-Cooke, F/Lt. SC Norris, F/Lt. EBB Smith, Sgt. J Murray, Sgt. P Ward-Smith, F/Lt. DS Wilson

He destroyed a Me109 and shared another on 5th December 1940.

Murray was killed in the Middle East on 3rd April 1943 as a Warrant Officer with the Aden Communications Flight.

Vickers Vincent K4678 struck a hill while low-flying along the Yemeni border near Harib.

His body was not recovered and Murray is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo.