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The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. H C Sawyer

 

Henry Cecil Sawyer, of Brentwood, was born in 1915 in India, the son of Lt. Col. Henry Hollington Sawyer (1880-1963) and Gertrude Isabel Sawyer (nee Grace 1878-1918).

His father served in Karachi and Bombay, as was.

HC Sawyer was educated at St. Dunstans Prep School, Worthing and Dover College.

He played for Worthing Rugby Club.

He entered RAF College, Cranwell in January 1933 as a Flight Cadet.

After graduation in December 1934, Sawyer joined 142 Squadron at Andover. He was posted to the staff of the Electrical and Wireless School at Cranwell on 30th May 1936 and moved to the staff of RAF College there on 16th July 1938.

In April 1938 he had married Eileen Smith of Spalding, Lincolnshire.

 

 

In early 1940 Sawyer was on the staff of 9 BGS. He was posted from there to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge, arriving on 27th May 1940 for a refresher course. After converting to Spitfires he went to 7 OTU Hawarden on 15th June, the day the unit was formed, as OC 'B' Flight.

Sawyer was posted to 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on 2nd July 1940 and took command on the 8th.

He was killed on 2nd August when he crashed on take-off from Hornchurch on a night patrol in Spitfire R6799, which burned out.

 

Sawyer was 25. He was cremated at the City of London Crematorium, Manor Park London E12.

 

 

His brother Vivian also served in the RAF and survived the war.

 

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