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Philip Melville Cardell, from Huntingdonshire, joined the RAFVR in May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He was called up on September 1st 1939 and, after completing his flying training, was commissioned and went to 5 OTU on June 10th 1940. He was posted to 263 Squadron at Drem on the 23rd. After a few days he went to 603 Squadron at Dyce. The squadron went south to Hornchurch in late August.
On September 27th Cardell was in combat with Me109’s over the Channel. He destroyed one but it is believed that he was wounded in the engagement. Cardell attempted to get back to the English coast but had to bale out a quarter of a mile off Folkestone. His friend, Pilot Officer PG Dexter, tried to attract peoples' attention to Cardell's plight. When he failed to do so, he made a forced-landing on Folkestone beach, commandeered a boat and headed for his friend but Cardell was dead when they reached him.
Cardell was 23.
He is buried in Great Paxton (Holy Trinity) Churchyard Huntingdonshire -
Son of Harold Stanley Cardell and Elsie Louise (Gawthrop) Cardell of St Neots Huntingdonshire.
Ref
Battle of Britain Monument London
The Fallen Few of the Battle of Britain
CWGC
Find A Grave
Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War Volume 1. Norman L R Franks
