The Airmen's Stories - F/O R J Peacock

Reginald John Peacock, from London, was born on 3rd October 1917, the son of Charles Thomas Peacock and Eliza Munro Peacock (nee Innes).

He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began training on 23rd August 1937.

He was awarded Aero Certificate 13685 at Cambridge Aero Club on 19th March 1936.

After training at 1 FTS Leuchars he was posted to the FAA Pool at RAF Gosport.

At the outbreak of war, Peacock was serving with 'A' Flight of 2 AACU Gosport and he was appointed 'B' Flight Commander there on 7th September 1939.

He joined 235 Squadron at Manston on 22nd January 1940.

On 12th May he destroyed a Me109 in the Hague-Hook of Holland area, on 27th June he destroyed a Me109 and damaged another over the Zuider Zee, on 3rd August he shared in the destruction of a He115 and on the 11th he shared a Me109.

On the 18th, flying Blenheim IV L9446 (below), he destroyed a Ju88 over Thorney Island.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 13th September 1940).

Peacock is the only Coastal Command pilot to achieve 'ace' status while flying the Blenheim.

On 19th November 1940 Peacock's flight of 235 was posted to RAF Aldergrove, where it joined a flight from 236 Squadron on the 21st to reform 272 Squadron. His first sortie with 272 was on 23rd November.

On 20th August 1942 the squadron was reformed as 227 Squadron at Luqa, Malta. Peacock, by now a Squadron Leader, was still with 227 when he was killed as a passenger in Hudson EW877 of 117 Squadron which lost power on take-off and crashed at El Adem, Libya on 5th February 1943.

Also lost were:

F/Sgt. LJ Corfield
WO GW Dixon
Sgt. AG Eddy
F/Sgt. WH Gladwell
F/Lt. BG Hancorn
Sgt. HO Knowles
F/Lt. JH Manning
S/Ldr. DJ Passadoro
Sgt. TC Toy

Peacock is buried in Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya.