The Airmen's Stories - P/O A R deL Inniss

Aubrey Richard de Lisle Inniss was born on 21st November 1916 in Barbados.

He arrived at Liverpool aboard the ss Davisian on 22nd September 1933, giving his UK address as HMS Conway, Mersey. This was a Royal Navy 19th century wooden ship used as a training establishment.

Whether he went on to serve in the Navy is currently undocumented but his nickname in the RAF was 'Sinbad' so this may be evidence that he did so.

Inniss joined the RAF on a short service commission in January 1939. Shortly afterwards he married Ruth Treglown in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire.

After completing his training at 14 SFTS Kinloss he was posted to 236 Squadron on 3rd September 1939. Inniss destroyed a He111 which was out on a weather reconnaissance over the Atlantic on 23rd September 1940. He reported that three crew members abandoned the aircraft and climbed into a lifeboat

He completed his first tour of operations in July 1941 and became an instructor at the Operational Command Unit (OCU) at Catfoss until February 1942. He was then assigned to 248 Squadron, flying Beaufighter VIcs.

With this unit, he operated over the Bay of Biscay, with some success as reflected in the citation for an award of the DFC (gazetted 9th July 1943):

"Flight Lieutenant Inniss has destroyed four enemy aircraft, probably destroyed three and damaged three more. He has participated in many air combats and, on one occasion, took part in a low level attack on Cherbourg airfield where casualties were caused among enemy personnel. This officer is a most inspiring leader. By his complete disregard of danger, his devotion to duty and his keenness to seek out and destroy the enemy he has set a most praiseworthy example."

He left 248 Squadron in July 1943 and became a Group 1 Engineer (GTI) of 242 Group in North Africa and then Italy.

In October 1943, he took command of 39 Squadron, equipped with Beaufighter Xs, until March 1944 when, promoted to Wing Commander, he was appointed Wing Commander Flying in Athens.

In April he went to the Middle East War College before taking command of No. 1 PEC in Milan in May 1945.

Inniss returned to the UK in September 1946 and served with the Air Ministry until 1949, when he took command of 74 Squadron. After a posting to the amphibious school at North Devon, he commanded RAF Finningley until 1957.

Inniss retired from the RAF on 18th December 1957 as a Squadron Leader, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.

Inniss and his wife ran the Half Moon Inn, a haunt of fishermen, in the village of Sheepwash, North Devon. After his wife died in 1975 he returned to Barbados.

He died on 30th January 2003 in Bridgetown, Barbados and is buried in the Military Cemetery at the Garrison, Needham Point.

In 2008 he was depicted on a Barbados stamp (below).