The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. T C E Berkeley

Thomas Colqhoun Edmonds Berkeley from Tullahoge, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland was born on . 6th December 1916, the son of James Lowry Berkeley (1876-1941) and Eleanor Patton Paden (1888-1992).

He joined the RAFVR on about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 14 FTS, arrived at 6 OTU on 3rd August 1940 and joined 85 Squadron on 2nd September 1940.

In early 1941 the squadron was a night-fighter unit, equipped with Hurricanes, Defiants and Havocs. On the night of 16th April Berkley damaged a He111, one of some 700 bombers attacking London.

On a night sortie on 14th June 1941, Berkeley was shot down in Havoc I AX848 'K' by a return fire from a He111 of KG4 over the Thames Estuary. He and his radar operator, Sgt. R Carr, were both reported 'Missing'.

Berkley was 23. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 35.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner