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Charles Albert Henry Ayling of Cowplain, Hampshire was born on 12th March 1912 and joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in September 1927. He passed out in August 1930, served as an observer with the Fleet Air Arm in Egypt and later applied for pilot training.
After gaining his wings in April 1939 he went on to serve with 43 Squadron in September that year. On 7th June 1940 he was in combat with Me109’s south-east of Dieppe and had to crash-land his badly-damaged Hurricane L1737 at Rouen-Boos in France. He left France on the 10th in a Hurricane with a punctured wing-tank and reached Tangmere.
On 12th July 1940 Ayling shared a He111. He went to 66 Squadron at Kenley on 10th September and to 421 Flight at Gravesend on 8th October. Three days later, in Spitfire P7303, he was killed when he crashed at Newchurch after combat with enemy aircraft over Hawkinge.
Ayling was 28 and was buried near his wife's home in St. Nicholas Cemetery at Monkton, Pembroke. Grave 107.
Son of Amelia Ayling, of Cowplain, Hampshire. His brother Albert Edgar Ayling also fell.
Ref-Battle of Britain London Monument
CWGC
