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The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. F W Wake

 

Frederick William Wake was born in Winchester on 17th October 1919 and employed as a shop assistant in a provisions merchant in Bournemouth when he joined the RAF in October 1939 as an Airman u/t Air Gunner.

He completed his training and joined 264 Squadron, operating Defiants at Kirton-in-Lindsey, in September 1940.

In early 1941 Wake was serving with the newly-formed 96 Squadron at Cranage, also equipped with Defiants. He teamed up with F/O VBS Verity.

On 3rd May they destroyed a Ju88 at night, on the 6th a He111 and probably a Ju88, on the 7th a Ju88 and probably a second and on 8th July a He111.

Verity and Wake were aloft in Defiant N3434 on the night of 5th August 1941 when they collided with Defiant N3447, which came down at Whitegate, Cheshire. The crew, P/O JR Duncan and F/Sgt. FA Allcroft, were killed. Verity and Wake were uninjured.

Wake was awarded the DFM (gazetted 8th August 1941).

He married Margaret Marshall in December 1943 in Manchester.

His subsequent service is undocumented but he is known to have died on 1st June 1963 in Winchester.

 

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