The RAF Association was sad to learn of the death of John Cheyney, who flew Spitfires and Typhoons during the Second World War.
John joined the RAF shortly after his 18th birthday in 1942. On graduating the following year from the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada, he flew Spitfires out of RAF Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire. He then trained to fly Typhoons and, in 1944, was posted to 247 Squadron in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
On New Year’s Day 1945, most of his squadron’s aircraft, along with many others, were destroyed on the ground during the Nazis’ last major air attack of the Battle of the Bulge. John and his colleagues took part in counter-attacks.
Later in January, John’s aircraft was shot down and he was imprisoned at Stalag VII-A, the largest prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany, until the war in Europe ended.
On release, John rejoined 247 Squadron, which was preparing to fight the Japanese. However, the surrender of Japan in August 1945, meant John wasn’t involved in the conflict.
After leaving the RAF in 1947, John worked for the Vestey Group in South America, and settled in Brazil where he met his future wife, Betty. The couple later had three daughters, Genevieve, Brett and Silvana.
Silvana told the RAF Association that, as a young boy, their father had taken every opportunity to watch aircraft in the skies above his school between Croydon Airport and RAF Kenley.
She said:
“Well before he turned 18, his mind was set on being a fighter pilot. Some people were born to fly, and John Cheyney was one of them”.
John, who was a widower, died in late February in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the age of 97.
Pictured: RAF fighter pilot John Cheyney (left) with two members of 247 Squadron’s groundcrew in Eindhoven in 1945.
