Robert Stanford Tuck
Tuck joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1935 and first engaged in combat during the Battle of France, over Dunkirk, claiming his first victories.In January 1938 practising formation flying in a Gladiator over the town of Uckfield in East Sussex, Tuck was involved in a fatal mid-air collision with another pilot.The citation for this award, published in The London Gazette read "...this officer led his flight in company with his squadron on two offensive patrols over Northern France.On 11 September, during the height of the Battle of Britain, Tuck was promoted to acting squadron leader and posted to command the Hawker Hurricane-equipped No.[14] The official citation for his second DFC, published in the London Gazette reads:Flight Lieutenant Roland Robert Stanford TUCK, D.F.C.In a similar attack on the second, a cannon shell blew away his oil and glycol tank and a piece of his propeller, but he reached the coast and landed by parachute.Flying Bf 109 E-7, Werknummer (W.Nr) 5094, Marseille was pursued to the Cap Gris Nez area near Calais, France, and forced to take to his parachute.257 Squadron.This officer has commanded his squadron with great success, and his outstanding leadership, courage and skill have been reflected in its high morale and efficiency.After a brief trip to America with Adolph Malan and Harry Broadhurst to evaluate lend-lease aircraft and train American pilots,[22][23] he returned to a posting at RAF Biggin Hill as wing leader, from where he flew his last missions.However, he noted his "Tuck's luck" came to his rescue when his captors spotted that, by remarkable chance, one of his 20mm cannon shells had gone precisely down the barrel of a similar-sized ground weapon before exploding.[25] He remained at Belaria until he finally escaped from captivity along with the Polish RAF Battle of Britain ace, Zbigniew "Zbishek" Kustrzyński, on 1 February 1945 by hiding in a barn during the westward march.[28] He received his final decoration, the American Distinguished Flying Cross on 14 June 1946,[29] before he retired from the RAF and active service on 13 May 1949,[30] having had his permanent rank promoted to wing commander in July 1947.[32] Following retirement Tuck continued flying as a test pilot, including working on the RAF's long-serving English Electric Canberra.A courageous officer who defended this nation in the skies above Kent during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and whose remains are interred with those of his beloved wife Joyce in the Churchyard".
HurricaneCatfordLondonCanterburyRoyal Air ForceWing commanderRAF ColtishallNo. 257 Squadron RAFSecond World WarBattle of FranceBattle of BritainDistinguished Service OrderDistinguished Flying CrossTwo BarsAir Force CrossMentioned in dispatchesfighter pilotflying acetest pilotDunkirksquadron leaderHawker Hurricaneanti-aircraft fireSt Dunstan's CollegeMerchant Navypilot officer65 Squadronflying officerGloster GauntletGloster Gladiator92 SquadronCroydonSpitfiresGeorge VIRAF HornchurchThe London GazetteJunkers Ju 88sTunbridge WellsHorsmondenDornier Do 17Bf 109sHans-Joachim MarseilleCap Gris NezCalaisHeinkel He 59George BennionsNo. 41 Squadron RAFOberleutnantJagdgeschwader 53CardiffCuthbert Ordewing leaderRAF DuxfordFranceAmericaAdolph MalanHarry Broadhurstlend-leaseRAF Biggin HillBoulogne20mm cannon shellsStalag Luft IIIŻagańGreat EscapeRussianSouthamptonEnglish Electric CanberraEastrySandwich BaySt. George's Golf ClubThis Is Your LifeEamonn AndrewsAdolf GallandgodfatherSandwich, KentSt ClementOsprey PublishingPrice, AlfredConstable, Trevor J.YouTubeAleksander GabszewiczDenis Spotswoodflying acesPat PattleJohnnie JohnsonGeorge BeurlingWilliam ValeBrendan FinucaneJohn BrahamFrank CareyJames LaceyNeville DukeColin GrayEric LockLance WadeDonald KingabyBill Crawford-ComptonBranse BurbridgeBobby OxspringArchie McKellarJohn CunninghamDouglas BaderBilly DrakeMichael CrossleyGeoffrey AllardRoy DuttonManfred CzerninVernon WoodwardKarel KuttelwascherAlbert LewisDesmond McMullenHerbert HallowesWilliam RollsMark BrownThomas Dalton-MorganAl DeereJosef FrantišekWillie McKnightStanley OrrNewell OrtonJames RankinMaurice StephensWitold UrbanowiczTony LovellAlfred MarshallAlexander Rabagliati