On 9th August 1941 the pilot of this 20 E.F.T.S. aircraft was undertaking a training flight when he force landed near Meltham, Huddersfield. The 20 E.F.T.S. ORB states that the aircraft was not damaged nor was the pilot injured and the identity of the aircraft was not recorded in the ORB and it remains a mystery.
Pilot - LAC Robert Edward Barckley RAFVR (655983). Uninjured.
Robert Barckley received a commission on 5th December 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (138650) and was promoted to F/O on probation on 5th June 1943 but
three days earlier he had been flying an operational flight in Tempest EK227 with 3 Squadron when the aircraft was badly damaged, he made a forced landing in Belgium
and was successful in evading capture via the Comete Line. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 8th June 1944 and was then awarded the DFC for service with 3 Squadron,
Gazetted on 3rd November 1944 the citation reads.. "F/O Barckley has completed very many sorties including attacks on enemy shipping and rail and road communications.
In other sorties he has displayed a high degree of courage and his devotion to duty has been unfailing" serving with 3 Squadron from April 1942 to November 1944. He
was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 5th December 1944. He was the first pilot to make a successful claim in destroying a V-1 flying bomb in May 1944.
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