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The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. R G Dutton

 

Roy Gilbert Dutton was born in Hatton, Ceylon on 2nd March 1917 and educated in England.

He was awarded Aero Certificate 13384 on 20th September 1935 at Hanworth Flying Club, his profession recorded as 'insurance clerk'.

Dutton joined the RAF in June 1936 on a short service commission and began his flying training.

On 5th September he was posted to 8 FTS Montrose and on completion of his training joined 111 Squadron at Northolt on 24th April 1937.

In early 1940 Dutton was still serving with 111. On 13th January he shared a He111 and on 8th March destroyed a Ju88 over the sea while engaged on a sector reconnaissance. He was posted to 145 Squadron on 3rd April and appointed 'A' Flight Commander the next day.

 

 

East of Brussels on 18th May Dutton destroyed a He111 and shared another and on the 19th and 22nd destroyed another two He111s. Off Dunkirk on the 31st Dutton destroyed a Me109 and shared another and on 1st June he destroyed two Me109s and a Me110.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 31st May 1940).

Dutton shared a Do17 on 1st July, claimed a He111 destroyed on the 11th, damaged a Ju88 on the 17th, shared a He111 on the 19th, damaged a Ju88 on 1st August, claimed three Ju87s probably destroyed and a Me110 damaged on the 8th, got two probable Me110s and damaged two more on the 11th and destroyed a Ju88 on the 12th.

He was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 20th August 1940).

Dutton was posted from the squadron to RAF Drem on 28th August 1940 as non-effective sick. He was posted from Drem to RAF Hornchurch on 16th September. He returned to 145 Squadron, then at Tangmere, on 22nd December 1940 as non-operational, and was immediately posted to RAF Tangmere as non-effective sick.

On 12th April 1941 Dutton went to Kirton-in-Lindsey to form and then command 452, the first RAAF fighter squadron. He left to command 19 Squadron at Fowlmere on 15th June, damaged a Me109 on the 23rd but went to a staff job at the Air Ministry on 16th July.

In preparation for a return to operations Dutton was posted to 54 OTU Church Fenton on 3rd March 1942. After converting to Beauflghters he joined 141 Squadron on 17th April as a Flight Commander. Tour-expired, Dutton was attached to No. 1 ADF Croydon on 26th November 1942 and soon afterwards joined the Overseas Staff.

In early May 1943 he was posted to HQ Middle East and on 9th September took command of 4 Ferry Control at Habbaniya, Iraq.

Dutton was appointed SASO 249 Wing on 1st April 1944. He returned to the UK later in the year and on 12th December he went to HQ 46 Group as Wing Commander Ops.

In January 1945 Dutton took command of 512 Squadron at Broadwell and in March was detailed to lead a glider train of over 400 tug and glider combinations conveying an airborne division on the Rhine Crossing to a point between Weser and Emmerich.

Dutton was first to reach the area and his tug and glider combination came under heavy fire. He pressed on to the landing zone, several miles behind enemy lines. He only gave the order for the glider to be released when he was sure it would reach its objective.

For this action Dutton was awarded the DSO (gazetted 8th June 1945).

He commanded 525 Squadron at Lyneham and Membury from 15th June 1945 to 28th March 1946. He held various appointments and commands in the post-war years. He was ADC to the Queen, was made a CBE, went to Moscow as a Defence and Air Attache in May 1968 and retired on 3rd December 1970 as a Group Captain, retaining the rank of Air Commodore.

Dutton died on 14th September 1988 and is buried in St. Lukes churchyard, Whyteleafe, Surrey.

 

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