Bio / Text:
< =
expand >
Francis Hebblethwaite Powell Connor was born in 1917. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training on 10th May 1937.
On 17th July he was posted to 9 FTS Hullavington and, with his training completed, he joined 22 (Torpedo-Bomber) Squadron at Thorney Island on 12th June 1938.
Connor went to 5 OTU Aston Down on 22nd June 1940, converted to Spitfires and joined 234 Squadron at St. Eval on 6th July.
He shared in the destruction of a Ju88 on 27th July and was shot down on 16th August during a combat with Me109's off Portsmouth. He baled out and was rescued by a Royal Navy launch and taken to Haslar Naval Hospital, remaining there for two months.
His Spitfire, X4016, crashed into the sea. Connor did not fly operationally again.
On 3rd November 1940 he was posted to CFS Upavon for an instructors course.
From 14th May 1941 until the end of the war he was a flying instructor in the UK and Canada. Connor's final posting was to the Air Staff at HQ 50 Group at Reading.
He was released in July 1946 as a Squadron Leader.
Ref
Battle of Britain Monument London
