Battle of Britain Monument Home THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN LONDON MONUMENT Battle of Britain London Monument
The Battle of Britain London Monument "Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed
by so many to so few
."
Site of Battleof Britain London Monument Work in Progress London Monument Site Drawing of Battle of Britain London Monument
Battle of Britain London Monument Home    
   

The Airmen's Stories - P/O A Mamedoff

 

Andrew Beck Mamedoff was born on 24th August 1912 in Warsaw, then part of the Russian Empire, now the capital of Poland.

His parents were Lev Mamedoff and Natalia Mamedoff (nee Vonsiatsky). His father was an officer in the Special Corps of Gendarmes of the Russian Empire stationed in Poland.

The fled Russia after the Civil War and lived in Europe for a short time before settling in Thompson, Connecticut, USA.

In Thompson, Mamedoff attended Tourtellotte Memorial High School. He later enrolled in Bryant University.

He learned to fly and owned his own plane, performing at airshows and attempting to set up charter services in Miami and later Southern California.

He travelled to Europe intending to fight for Finland against Russia. Arriving after the Finnish war ended he then enlisted (with his close friends Eugene Tobin and Vincent Keough) in the French Air Force but the chaotic conditions resulting from the German invasion resulted in them being shunted around France without ever being allocated a squadron or aircraft. Seeing athat all was lost they managed to join the last ship from the port of St Jean-de-Luz and join the RAF in England.

Following Spitfire conversion training at 7 OTU Hawarden Mamedoff was sent to No 609 Squadron on the 8th of August 1940 at Middle Wallop.

 

Above (L to R): Tobin, Keough and Mamedoff.

 

On the 19th of September 1940 Mamedoff (plus his two friends) were the first pilot arrivals at the newly-formed 71 'Eagle' Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

On 1st August 1941 he was posted to another ‘Eagle’ squadron, No.133, as a Flight Commander.

He married Alys Laird Crockatt in September 1941 in Epping, Essex.

 

 

On a transit flight from Fowlmere to Eglinton, Northern Ireland on 8th October 1941 his Hurricane Z3781 crashed in poor weather near Maughold, Ramsey, Isle of Man and he was killed.

His grave is in Brookwood Military Cemetery.

 

 

 

Above: he is commemorated on a memorial at Maughold, Isle of Man.

 

The American volunteers that flew with the RAF in the Battle are the subject of a book "The Few" by Alex Kershaw ISBN 978-0-718-14746-4

 


Battle of Britain Monument