The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. N P Warden

Noel Proctor Warden was born on 26th September 1918 in Gateshead, the son of Norman Charles and Eva Warden.

He joined the RAFVR in May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and joined 610 Squadron at Acklington on 6th October 1940.

Above: Hawkinge July 1941: L to R: F/O PPC Barthropp, F/Lt. Abrahams, P/O NP Warden, F/Lt. JEF Demozay, Sgt. DWP Connolly, Sgt. J Perkin, Sgt. JK Down, Sgt. A Gavan.

Commissioned in June 1941, Warden was posted to 91 Squadron at Hawkinge.

On 1st October 1941 four Spitfires, led by F/Lt. J DEF Demozay, were sent to cover two RAF rescue launches operating close to the French coast.

Warden was flying R7290, a presentation aircraft 'The Doningtonian', the result of a single donation of £5000 by the agricultural produce firm WD Cook & Son of Donington, Lincolnshire.

Above image courtesy of Neil Mckenzie.

As the launches seperated Demozay and Sgt. DWP Connolly followed one while Warden and Sgt. DW Baker covered the other.

At 1350 Warden reported that he was under attack by Me109s. Demozay and Connolly returned within minutes but there was no trace of Warden or Baker then or during later searches.

Baker's body was washed up on the Dutch coast and he lies in Hague Cemetery.

Warden is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 35.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.