The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. J L G Cunningham

John Laurence Gilchrist Cunningham from Burntisland, Fife was born on 30th March 1917, the son of Thomas Cunningham (1886-1954) and Jessie Livingstone Cunningham (nee Hollingworth 1888-1958).

He joined 603 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in 1935 and was still serving with the squadron when it was absorbed into the RAF on 23rd August 1939.

He damaged a He111 when he was with a 603 detachment protecting Montrose airfield on 7th December.

Above image courtesy of and copyright the David Ross Collection.

On 20th July 1940 Cunningham shared in shooting down a Do17 into the sea thirty miles east of Aberdeen.

He failed to return from combat over Dover on 28th August 1940 in Spitfire I R6751 'U'. He was 23.

Cunningham is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 4.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner

He is also commemorated on a family grave (below).

Above images courtesy of Mike Brown.