The Airmen's Stories - F/O I G Shaw

Ian Garstin Shaw of Norwood, Surrey was born on 4th January 1919, the son of Angus Brodie Shaw and Minnie Christiana Shaw.

He was educated at Monkton Combe School (near Bath), joining the Junior School in the Winter Term of 1931, moving into the Sixth Form at the Senior School in the Lent Term of 1933.

He left in December 1935 to join his father's publishing business AB Shaw & Co.

Above: Shaw was a member of the school’s rugby football 1st XV.

Above image courtesy of Monkton Combe School Archives.

He was unsuited to the work and joined the RAF on a short service commission in August 1937. He was posted to 7 FTS Peterborough on 24th October and on completion of the course he joined the SHQ at RAF Gosport. he trained in torpedo dropping.

In the Spring of 1940 he became engaged to Edris Erskine of Gosport.

Shaw was posted to 264 Squadron, operating Defiants at Kirton-in-Lindsey, on 5th July 1940. On 21st August the squadron went south to Hornchurch for what was to be its last spell of day-fighting.

Shaw failed to return from combat with Me109s off Manston on the 24th in Defiant L7027. His gunner Sgt. A Berry was also lost.

Shaw is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 6.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.