The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J H Tanner

John Henry Tanner was born on 29th April 1915 in Poplar, the son of John William and Eva Eleanor Tanner. He was educated at Enfield Grammar School and joined the RAF in January 1931 as an Aircraft Apprentice.

He passed out in December 1933 as a Fitter, Aero Engines. He later applied for pilot training and was selected.

Tanner was serving with 610 Squadron at Gravesend in early July 1940. Tanner failed to return from combat with a He59 over the Channel off Calais on 11th August in Spitfire R6918.

He was 25. His body was washed ashore on the same day and buried at Calais-Nord cemetery, in 1945 he was reinterred in Calais Southern Cemetery.

The CWGC records his wife as Helen Maria Tanner.