The Airmen's Stories - LAC A L Austin

Leading Aircraftman Albert Lawrence Austin was born on 22nd March 1915 in Edmonton, the son of Lawrence Austin (1895-1949) and Ada Eliza Austin (nee Tricks 1896-1997).

AL Austin was a Radio Engineer before enlisting in the RAFVR in March 1940.

He had married Gwendoline Joan Matthews in Brentford in January 1939.

He was serving with 604 Squadron as a Radar Operator on Blenheims at Northolt at the start of the Battle.

On 26th August 1940 he was aboard Blenheim L6782 when it crashed near Witheridge, Exeter while on an operational sortie (report below).

Austin, Sergeants JGB Fletcher and C Haigh were all killed.

He was 25 years old and is buried at Northwood Cemetery.

Austin was killed before the order promoting all operational airmen of Airman's rank to Sergeant came into force.

His father was killed in an accident while visiting Recife in Brazil in 1949 and lies in the British cemetery there.