The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. V B CORBETT

Vaughan Bowerman Corbett was born on 24th March 1911 in Toronto, Canada, the son of William Frederick Corbett and Sada Corbett (nee Bowerman).

At some time he married Mary Catherine Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Corbett joined the RCAF on 30th December 1935.

He arrived in the UK with No 1 (RCAF) Squadron on 20th June 1940.

L to R: F/O GG Hyde, P/O BE Christmas, F/Lt. VB Corbett, F/O EW Beardmore, F/O RL Edwards, F/Lt. EM Reyno

Corbett was shot down in combat with Me109s over Cranbrook on 31st August. He baled out, with burns, and landed near Wittersham level crossing. His Hurricane, P3869, crashed and burned out at Biddenden.

On 1st January 1941 Corbett was posted to 2 (RCAF) Squadron at Digby, as a Flight Commander. He took command of the unit in April 1941. It had been re-numbered as 402 (RCAF) Squadron on 1st March 1941.

On a Blenheim-escort to raid the power station at Mazingarbe on 27th September 1941, Corbett shared in destroying a Me109. When his tour ended he was awarded the DFC (gazetted 13th February 1942) and on 16th July 1942 he was repatriated to Canada.

Corbett was killed in a flying accident on 20th February 1945, as a Group Captain.

Bristol Bolingbroke Mk. IVT, a target-tug of 7 OTU, crashed on takeoff from Bagotville, Quebec.

Sgt. JA Fisher, Sgt. WR Clark and LAC WC Warrell were also killed and LAC L Gobell was seriously injured.

Corbett is buried in St James' Cemetery, Toronto.