81641 Pilot Officer Gerald Archibald LANGLEY, 41 Sqdn RAF: 15/09/1940, Battle of Britain

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by CL1, Sep 15, 2019.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Remembering Today

    Pilot Officer (Pilot) LANGLEY, GERALD ARCHIBALD

    Service Number 81641
    Died 15/09/1940
    Aged 24
    41 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Son of Archibald Frank Martin Langley and Mary Elizabeth Langley, of Northampton.
    Buried at ABINGTON (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD
    Location: Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
    Number of casualties: 14
    Cemetery/memorial reference: Grave 1300.

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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Gerald A Langley
    Death Age: 26
    Birth Date: abt 1914
    Registration Date: Jul 1940
    [Aug 1940]
    [Sep 1940]
    Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
    Registration district: Thurrock
    Inferred County: Essex
    Volume: 4a
    Page: 1109

    1939 England and Wales Register
    Name: Gerald A Longley
    Gender: Male
    Marital status: Single
    Birth Date: 29 Jul 1916
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: 407
    Residence Place: Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
    Occupation: Insurance Clerk
    Schedule Number: 333
    Sub Schedule Number: 3
    Enumeration District: RIBH
    Registration district: 163-1
    Inferred Father: Archibald F M Longley
    Inferred Mother: Mary E Longley

    TD

    Birth Date: abt 1914
    Birth Date: 29 Jul 1916

    I wouldn't have thought the discrepancy in his birth date as on his death cert and 39 Reg would have been so far out - just an observation but I would like to believe those that provided the info for his death certificate [presumably the RAF] would have fairly good records for their servicemen

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Gerald A Langley
    Registration Date: Jul 1916
    [Aug 1916]
    [Sep 1916]
    Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
    Registration district: Potterspury
    Inferred County: Northamptonshire
    Mother's Maiden Name: Amos
    Volume Number: 3b
    Page Number: 31
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2019
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  3. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ey-doc.3262/&usg=AOvVaw0xxsUrjgqjHRJo2JRf9VR4

    81641 Pilot Officer Gerald Archibald Langley

    Born at Stony Stratford and educated at Wolverton Grammar School. His family moved to Northampton in 1936 and he started work with the Prudential Assurance co.

    He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, in March 1939, joining 41 Squadron from training at RAF Little Rissington, together with 3 colleagues, 3 of the 4 were not to survive the wars end.

    41 Squadron (Spitfire) were based at Catterick in August 1940. The squadron had spent a busy period flying fighter sweeps over Northern France during the Battle of France and Dunkirk period.

    The squadron was transferred to RAF Hornchurch, north of the Thames – and the thick of the Battle – on September 3rd.

    On September 11th Gerald was shot down in Spitfire X4325 by return fire from a Junkers 88 over Sevenoaks; he baled out unhurt.

    On Battle of Britain Day, 15th September, he was shot down and killed while in combat with a BF109S. His Spitfire, P9324, is believed to be that which crashed and burned out at Wick Farm, Buphan, Essex, He is buried in St. Peter and Paul Churchyard, Abington, Northampton. He was just 24 years old.

    Gerald was no Douglas Bader or Adolf Galland, just a young man who was flung into the midst of the Battle of Britain in its most violent phase, one of the few. One of the even fewer, Killed on the very day that history and the RAF officially declared the defeat of the German Luftwaffe, forcing Adolf Hitler to abandon his Invasion Plans of Britain (Operation Sealion).

    Gerald did his best, giving his life in defence of his country. It’s good to remember such people.
     
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