The Airmen's Stories - P/O A J J Truran

Anthony John Jamieson Truran was born on 28th April 1920 in Andover, Hampshire, the son of Cyril Jamieson Truran and Jane Elizabeth Truran.

He attended Rugby School from 1933 to 1937 before working for Sir William Crawford, Advertising Agents in London.

Above: in his final year at Rugby.

He joined 615 Squadron AAF in 1939 and was called to full-time service at Kenley on 24th August and commissioned. He remained attached to RAF Kenley when 615 moved to Croydon on 2nd September 1939.

The attachment ceased on 24th September and Truran rejoined 615 Squadron at Croydon, for duty as Ops Officer. He was posted back to RAF Kenley on 3rd October.

He was posted from Kenley to 5 EFTS Hanworth on 21st October 1939 to carry out his elementary training. Truran moved on to 3 FTS South Cerney for No. 33 Course, which ran from 25th March to 11th July 1940. He rejoined 615 Squadron, then at Kenley, on 13th July.

He was detached to RAF Uxbridge from 15th July to the 18th for a short R/T procedure course. When Truran rejoined 615 Squadron he was attached to the Kenley Sector Training Flight for further training, until rejoining 615 Squadron on 8th August.

Above: In October 1939 his portrait was made by the artist David Jagger (1891-1958).

On 15th August his Hurricane, L1829, was badly damaged in combat with Me109s over Folkestone and he returned to base with shrapnel wounds in one leg. Truran was made non-effective sick and did not return to 615 Squadron until 30th September 1940.

Truran was killed on 25th November 1940 when he crashed in the squadron Magister N3976 at Sunningdale after a wing fell off at 200 feet. P/O JAP McClintock was also killed*

They were both cremated at St John’s Crematorium, Woking.

* see www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/McClintock.htm

Additional research and all images courtesy of Alex Welsh.