The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D Noble

Dennis Noble, from East Retford, Nottinghamshire was born on 27th January 1920, the son of Harry and Annie Ethel Noble.

He was educated at the Methodist Day School and Sir Frederick Milner School, Retford. Before the war Noble was employed as Chief Radio Engineer by Masto Ltd. of Watford.

Noble joined the RAFVR about October 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot and was called to full-time service on 1st September 1939. He completed his training at 11 FTS Shawbury and arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 6th July 1940.

After converting to Hurricanes Noble joined 43 Squadron at Northolt on 3rd August 1940. On the 13th he made an emergency landing at Tangmere after an operational sortie, with damage to his glycol system and radiator. On the 16th Noble claimed a Ju87 destroyed.

He was shot down and killed by a Me109 off the Sussex coast on 30th August. His Hurricane, P3179, crashed near the junction of Portland and Woodhouse Roads in Hove.

Noble was 20. A funeral was held at East Retford Cemetery and a coffin was buried. Rumours persisted at the time that it contained only stones and was tilting to one side when lowered into the grave.

On 9th November 1996 Noble's aircraft was being excavated when it was discovered that his remains were still in the cockpit. His relatives were stunned by the discovery. There was subsequently a memorial service and Noble's remains were interred in the original grave, more than 56 years after his death.