The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. P C Pinkham

Philip Campbell Pinkham, from Wembley, was born on 29th May 1915, the son of Lieut. Philip Irving Pinkham RNVR and Nora Pinkham (nee Campbell).

He was educated at Kilburn Grammar School. After leaving, he worked for an insurance company and joined the London Yeomanry, a territorial unit.

In April 1935 Pinkham joined the RAF on a short service commission. He was posted to 6 FTS Netheravon on 7th May and joined 17 Squadron at Kenley on 17th February 1936.

Pinkham moved to the Meteorological Flight at Mildenhall on 16th August 1937. He was posted to 11 Group on 17th January 1938 and became an instructor at the Air Fighting School, Sutton Bridge.

His next posting was to 11 Group Pool at Andover on 17th January 1939, as an instructor. He took command on 22nd January 1940, as an Acting Squadron Leader. The Pool became 6 OTU in March 1940 and Pinkham commanded it until 3rd June, when he was given command of 19 Squadron at Duxford. He was awarded the AFC (gazetted 11th July 1940).

He was shot down and killed in combat with Me109s over the Thames Estuary on 5th September 1940. His Spitfire, P9422, is believed to have crashed into Whitehorse Wood, Birling, Kent.

Pinkham was 25. He is buried in St Andrews' churchyard, Kingsbury, Middlesex.

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He had two younger brothers - P/O James Murray Pinkham was made PoW when his Wellington, R1758 of 9 Squadron, was brought down in the sea off Blankenberghe, Belgium on 9th June 1941.

Captain Anthony Irving Pinkham, Royal Artillery, was awarded the MC for service in Italy and survived the war.