The Royal Air Forces Association was sad to learn of the passing of RAF veteran and Association member Brian Davies DFC at the age of 100.
Brian joined the RAF on his 18th birthday in January 1941, and was selected for pilot training in Alabama, USA. When he completed his training in 1942 he was awarded American metal pilot's wings – as there were no embroidered RAF wings available at his US base.
Proudly wearing their metal wings, Brian and his colleagues returned to Canada on the first stage of their journey home, and found themselves roundly reprimanded by an RAF Police Warrant Officer for being improperly dressed.
Brian and his 2,000 colleagues sailed back across the Atlantic on the liner The Queen Mary, avoiding the ever-present German U-Boat fleet. After spending some time in 1943 training glider pilots at RAF Shobdon in Herefordshire, Brian then converted to the Halifax bomber in 1944. He flew 33 operational sorties with 10 Squadron flying out of RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire, during the winter of 1944/45.
Halifax bombers of Brian’s 10 Squadron based at Melbourne, Yorkshire, gain height while outbound on a raid to Turin, Italy. ©IWM.
Brian liked to say that his subsequent award of the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945, at the age of 22, was made by the Postmaster General as the medal just turned up one day in the post.
After finishing his wartime flying in Africa, Brian was demobbed in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant and married Mary the following year. They had two daughters, Ann and Patricia. Mary died earlier this year after a remarkable 75 years of marriage.
Brian celebrated his 100th birthday in January 2023. During Armed Forces Week in June 2023, he and his daughters were invited to a reception in Hereford Town Hall. Present were the Mayor of Hereford, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire, the Chairman of Herefordshire Council and two current aircrew from 10 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton.
Brian was presented with an honorary membership of the 10 Squadron Association as well as a picture of a Voyager of 10 Squadron undertaking air-to-air refuelling. There were short speeches, in which The Lord-Lieutenant congratulated and thanked Brian on behalf of His Majesty The King, and in reply Brian reflected on his good luck, and his good life.
Brian Davies – wearing his US metal wings – with His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire and Flight Lieutenants Johann Sponneck (with picture) and Dan Turner of 10 Squadron RAF Brize Norton. Photo © Dave Daw Photography.
