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The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. J H M Rabone

 

John Henry Michael Rabone was born on 17th April 1913 at Kings Norton, Warwickshire and educated at Repton where he was in the Mitre boarding house from 1927 to 1932.

He went on to read Law at Oxford. He joined 604 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in early 1938 and was commissioned in March.

 

Above image courtesy of Repton School Archives

 

Called to full-time service on 24th August 1939, he arrived at 11 Group Pool St. Athan on 5th September for Hurricane training. He moved to 12 Group Pool Aston Down on the 15th. After converting to Blenheims he rejoined 604 at North Weald on 15th November 1939.

Rabone was detached from 604 to the Blenheim Conversion Flight at Hendon from 21st November 1939 to 17th January 1940. He joined 600 Squadron at Manston on 17th March 1940 and then rejoined 604 at Northolt on 1st April.

Rabone shared in damaging a He111 over Dunkirk on 22nd May. He served with 604 Squadron until 24th September 1940 when he went to CFS Upavon for an instructors course.

He served in Flying Training Command until released from the RAF in 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Rabone died in September 2000 in Crawley.

 

 

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