The Airmen's Stories - P/O D A Pennington

Denis Arthur Pennington was born on 3rd March 1921 in Stamford, Lincolnshire. He learned to fly at his own expense and was awarded Aero Certificate 16366 at Yapton Aero Club on 24th September 1938.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in February 1939. With his training completed, he joined 245 Squadron in early 1940.

In mid-May Pennington and other pilots of 245 Squadron were seconded to France to reinforce a much-depleted 615 Squadron. When 615 Squadron was withdrawn to Kenley on the 21st, the 245 pilots rejoined their own unit.

In late May 245 Squadron went south to Hawkinge for a short period. On 30th May Pennington shared in the probable destruction of a Do17 over Dunkirk. Later in June 245 Squadron went to Hawkinge again and on the 20th a strafing attack was made on Rouen-Boos aerodrome, destroying many aircraft on the ground.

He was posted to 253 Squadron at Kenley on 13th October 1940.

Pennington was later a Flight Commander in 124 Squadron. He was serving with 151 Squadron in May 1942 as a Squadron Leader Flight Commander.

In the early hours of 28th July 1942 Pennington, flying with F/Sgt. DJ Donnett as his radar operator, shot down a Do17 of 3/KG2 into the sea off Cromer.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 5th March 1943), being then credited with three enemy aircraft destroyed.

Pennington was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

Postwar Pennington flew commercially with British European Airways based in Jersey, flying Rapides, Dakotas and Viscounts before retiring in 1976. In retirement he managed a house building development company in Jersey and had a house in Spain. He was Jersey's squash champion many times.

Pennington died on 31st December 1995 in Malaga, Spain.