Sgt Pilot 1162796 VR in 50 Squadron Bomber Command

Sgt Pilot JOHN GORDON PROCTER (Known as Gordon)

(Incorrectly printed on most official documents as Proctor)

Killed in action on 30th August 1941 aged 26 years.

My Uncle Gordon;

Before the war, he worked in the family business of Insurance Brokers together with his father, brother and sister. He was a keen sportsman and a member of West Bromwich Harriers Club.

In 1939 he qualified for his A Pilot Licence at the age of 17 and was member of Castle Bromwich Aero Club. He volunteered for the R.A.F.

Service Record:-

Enlisted: 24/05/1940

Unit 2RC – 25/5/40

54 Group, Northcliffe – 8/7/40

O.T.U. 14 (7 Group) Cottesmore – 04/41 to 07/41

50 Sqdn Bomber Command 12/7/41

Flight Log:-

17/18th July raids AD766

20/21 July. AD843

22/23 July. AD902

25/26 July. AD928

28/29 July. AD854 Gardening (Swinderby)

5/6 August. AD839*

8/9 August. AD928

27/28 August. AD839

28/29 August. No operations (Swinderby)

29/30 August. 14 aircraft detailed to bomb docks at Frankfurt. Unfortunately one aircraft failed to return.

AD839* target docks at Frankfurt.

Two fixes were given by Sealand which put this aircraft over North East France. Nothing more was heard from it. **

**Aircraft Hampden AD839

Call sign VN-

Operation Frankfurt

Hampden AD839 took off from RAF Swinderby at 2145 hours on the night of 29/30 August 1941 to bomb Frankfurt, Germany. The aircraft and crew belonged to 50 Squadron RAF (With the exception that Flt Sgt R P Urpeth (RAF) who was the Air Gunner in the crew, belonged to 455 Sqdn RAAF). During the mission the aircraft had been heard in contact with Sealand D/F Station, but it failed to return from the mission.

I would like to thank Sgt. Procter’s niece, Roslyn Loades for supplying the material for this story.