The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J D Riddell-Hannam

John Derrick Riddell-Hannam was born on 23rd January 1922 in Warwick, the son of John Norman Riddell-Hannam (1887-1941) and Alice Heaton nee Wattis (1892-1985).

His father had served in the Royal Field Artillery in WW1.

JD Riddell-Hannam enlisted in the RAF in July 1939 as a Wireless Operator for six years regular service.

He completed his training in May 1940 and in June volunteered for aircrew duties. After gunnery training and conversion to Blenheims Riddell-Hannam joined 236 Squadron on 16th September 1940.

In July 1941 he joined 86 Squadron, operating Beauforts, but in March 1942 he was categorised as permanently unfit for aircrew, the result of a head injury sustained in the second of three crashes in which he had been involved.

In January 1943 Riddell-Hannam volunteered for Combined Operations and he served with 105 Wing in the Mediterranean, taking part in the invasions of Pantelleria, Sicily and Italy.

He was commissioned in the RAF Regiment in June 1944, served with 2837 Squadron and later 2739 Squadron in the Far East.

Riddell-Hannam stayed on in the RAF postwar, serving at home and overseas until his retirement in January 1955 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He married Barbara Mason in July 1948 in Richmond, London.

He later changed his name to Hannam.

He died in Solihull in July 1994.