Wing Commander RR Stanford-Tuck

Unveiling of commemorative plaque Saturday 3rd May 2008

Saturday 3rd May 2008 saw the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Wing Commander Roland Robert Stanford-Tuck DSO DFC** AFC at the Kent church where his ashes lie in the churchyard. He died in 1987 but until now there was no tangible memorial to mark his link with the Kent community he retired to more than a decade after defending the skies above them against the Luftwaffe in 1940.

He joined the RAF in 1935 after a spell in the Merchant Navy, he did not master the technique of flying immediately but once it clicked he never looked back. He first flew Spitfires in 1939 with 65 Squadron and at the start of the Battle of Britain was posted to Croydon. He gained the first of his aerial victories over Dunkirk and in one day alone shot down three enemy aircraft. His long association with Kent continued when he was posted to command the Biggin Hill Wing of four Spitfire squadrons.

Air Commodore Michael Jenkins OBE of RAF Air Command unveiled the plaque at the parish church of St Clement, Sandwich.

The service of dedication was performed by the Reverend Canon Mark Roberts, Rector of Sandwich and the Reverend Group Captain Richard Lee, Chaplain of the Central Church of the RAF, St Clement Danes in London. The Lord Lieutenant of Kent was represented by Deputy Lieutenant, Group Captain (ret) Patrick Tootal OBE. The Guard of Honour was provided by the 225 (Deal) Sqn Air Training Corps and branches of the South-East and Eastern Area RAF Association were present with their Standards.

During the Service Wing Commander Stanford-Tuck’s younger son Simon delivered a reading from the bible and his elder son Michael read extracts from the wartime speeches of Winston Churchill to the House of Commons that referred to the RAF and 'The Few'.

After the Service the congregation moved to the banks of the River Stour to watch a flypast by a Spitfire and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The Spitfire was flown by Squadron Leader Al Pinner and the Hurricane by Wing Commander Tony Innes.

Robert, who always used his second name, moved to Eastry near Sandwich in 1953 with his wife Joyce and their two sons, later retiring to Sandwich Bay. Joyce died in 1985 and Bob died two years later.

Said son Simon 'My father had a less than stellar school career, but he was a good shot and his love of shooting led him to compete at National level. Once he had mastered flying he combined the two and became a very effective fighter pilot in Spitfire and Hurricanes'.

Unveiling the plaque, Air Commodore Jenkins said 'The Battle of Britain was an intense and terrifying time for pilots. Bob symbolised the courage and nerve needed to fight and face danger each day, be shot down, rally round, fly again, get shot down again and so on until the Battle was won. Even in capture he did not rest but escaped as soon as he could. Bob and the rest of the Few never once saw themselves as heroes, but as just doing their best to save the nation from tyranny. But he was a gentleman too, and when after the war he met up with the German fighter ace Adolf Galland, who had treated him honourably and with kindness after being captured, their families became friends'.

Above: (L to R) Rev Lee, AC Jenkins, Rev Roberts.-

(Above) AC Jenkins watches as the BBMF arrives overhead.

Above: (L to R) Michael Stanford-Tuck, Air Cdre. Jenkins, Simon Stanford-Tuck.

(Above) the plaque in place.

The plaque project team comprised Michael and Simon Stanford-Tuck, Rev. Mark Roberts and Anthony Wozencroft.