The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J Wright

John Wright of Bearsden, Glasgow was born on 22nd February 1916 at Alloa, Clackmannanshire, the son of Robert Wright and Agnes Wright.

His father was killed in action on 28th April 1917 serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers and lies at Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux near Arras.

John Wright joined the RAF about August 1935 as an Aircrafthand.

He later applied for pilot training and was selected. After completing his training he arrived at 6 OTU in mid-June 1940.

On 22nd April 1940, in Hurricane L2009, Wright became lost on a flight from Sutton Bridge and came out of cloud to find he was over the sea. Heading back to land in cloud, he struck the ground at a shallow angle on moorland to the west of Kirkby Malzeard. His harness snapped causing him some injuries but he managed to walk to a nearby farm house. He taken to Ripon hospital and then released to Dishforth airfield sick quarters.

After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to 79 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 6th July 1940.

He shared in the destruction of a He111 on 9th August which ditched in the sea off Whitburn, County Durham.

Wright's Hurricane, P3676, was severely damaged in an action over Biggin Hill on 4th September and he was wounded.

Perhaps disorientated from his injuries, he flew 10 miles west from Biggin Hill before crashing at Wentworth Close, Ditton Hill, Surbiton. He was admitted to hospital but died next day.

Eyewitnesses believed that he intended to land at a playing field in nearby Tolworth but abandoned this as there were children playing there.

Wright was 24 years old. He is buried in New Kilpatrick Cemetery, Dumbartonshire.