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The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. J D Urie

 

John Dunlop Urie was born on 12th October 1915, he came from Glasgow and attended the Kelvinside Academy there, studying science subjects..

He was working for his father's company, City Bakeries, when he joined 602 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force in June 1935.

Urie was called to full-time service on 25th August 1939 and married Mary Taylor Bonnar in Glasgow in September 1939.

He shared in the destruction of a He111 fifteen miles east of May Isle on 22nd December. The enemy aircraft was on a mine-laying operation.

 

602 Squadron in early 1940

Rear row L to R: F/O CB Willey MC (MO), P/O SN Rose, Sgt. A McDowall, F/O JS Hart, Brazebrook (IO ?), Sgt. J Proctor, S/Ldr. AD Farquhar, Sgt. RFP Phillips, P/O A Lyall, Sgt. GA Whipps, P/O DH Gage, F/O PPC Barthropp, Taylor (? non-BoB), P/O HG Niven.

Front row L to R: F/Lt. CJ Mount, F/Lt. RF Boyd, S/Ldr. AVR Johnstone, S/Ldr. JD Urie, F/Lt. D Jack

 

 

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In April 1940 Urie was appointed a Flight Commander. He damaged a Ju88 on 9th July, ten miles east of Fifeness. On 1st August Urie tore a wing off Spitfire P9461, landing at Drem in heavy ground mist, unhurt.

On the 18th he landed back at Westhampnett minus flaps and with one burst tyre after his Spitfire, X4110, was severely damaged by cannon fire in combat with Me109s over Ford. Urie was wounded in both legs. The aircraft was written off (below), it had only been delivered to the squadron the previous day.

 

 

On 13th November he shared in the destruction of a Ju88. In December 1940 he was posted to 52 OTU Aston Down.

Urie later commanded 151 Wing in Russia.

He was released from the RAF in 1945 as a Wing Commander and rejoined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1946.

Postwar he studied for a law degree and set up a practice in Glasgow. He served as Commodore of the Royal Northern Yacht Club.

 

 

His portrait was made by Cuthbert Orde (above).

He died in 1999.

 

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