The Airmen's Stories - P/O J A C Venn

Jack Albert Charles Venn was born on 4th July 1917 and enlisted in the RAF in September 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer.

Venn was posted to No. 1 ITW Cambridge on 11th January 1940, moved to 6 ANS Staverton on 1st February and then to 3 BGS Aldergrove on 1st April.

With his training completed, Venn was posted to No. 1 (Coastal) OTU at Silloth on 1st June. He was commissioned on the 30th and joined 236 Squadron at Thorney Island on 1st July. He was posted to 272 Squadron at Aldergrove on 1st September, remaining with it until 1st May 1941, when he joined 235 Squadron at Bircham Newton.

Venn went to 2 (Coastal) AFU at Milton on 1st July 1941 as an instructor. After a short Senior Navigation Instructor's course at Cranage he was posted to 10 AFU Dumfries on 1st September 1942.

He had married Grace Verdun Mead in April 1942 in Bristol.

Venn volunteered for pilot training and on 1st July 1943 went to 13 ITW Torquay. He did his grading course at Shellingford and was posted to Canada on 1st November 1943. He went to 34 EFTS Assiniboia, Saskatchewan on the 27th and moved to 33 FTS Carberry on 28th February 1944, completing the course on 20th October.

After returning to the the UK Venn was posted to 107 OTU Leicester East on 18th March 1945, went for a glider-towing course at Ibsley on 6th May and then joined 512 Squadron, a Dakota transport unit, on the 20th.

Venn was released from the RAF in September 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He joined the RAFVR in July 1948 and instructed at 22 RFS Filton until 30th June 1952.

Venn continued to fly at the Bristol and Wessex Flying Club until August 1974.

He died on 18th June 2000.