The Airmen's Stories - P/O A G Osmand

Alexander Gordon Osmand, of London, was born on 22nd February 1918, the son of Gordon Osmand and Ethel Ada Osmand (nee Halsey).

He attended St.Paul’s School before going on to Imperial College, London from 1935 to 1938, reading Electrical Engineering at the School of Mines.

He achieved a First Class Honours Degree (Bachelor of Science – Engineering) in July 1937.

He joined the RAFVR in December 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, Osmand completed his training and arrived at 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge on 1st June 1940. After converting to Hurricanes he joined 213 Squadron at Wittering on 17th June.

On 11th August the hydraulic system of his Hurricane, N2708, was damaged by return fire from a Ju88 engaged over Portland. He crashed on landing back at base. Two days later Osmand claimed a Me109 destroyed.

Above: an extract from Osmand's logbook for August 1940 (right click to enlarge)

He moved to 3 Squadron at Castletown on 14th September and was posted away to CFS Upavon on 10th October 1940 for an instructors course.

In this month he married Irene Marjorie Hodges in Bristol.

Further postings followed, in June 1943 he flew Spitfire Mk Vs for a short while with 129 (Mysore) Squadron before being scheduled for overseas service.

He was killed on 20th October 1943 as a Flight Lieutenant with 261 Squadron, operating in Hurricanes in Burma. On this day the Japanese raided Chittagong airfield with (according to the AIR archives) 30 Type-97 aircraft escorted by 20 Zeros.

261 scrambled 7 Hurricanes, three were shot down, Osmand in AP896 being killed.

Osmand was 28. He is buried in Chittagong War Cemetery.

Images and additional research courtesy of Tony Osmand