Bio / Text:
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John Wintringham Cutts of Felpham, Sussex, joined the RAF in April 1938 on a short service commission. He was with 222 Squadron in July 1940.
On the 25th he made a forced-landing four miles north of Kirton-in-Lindsey after a combat with a He111 off Mabelthorpe.
The squadron moved to Hornchurch on 29th August and on the 30th Cutts shared in the destruction of a He111. On 4th September Cutts was shot down by Me109's over Maidstone. His Spitfire, ZD-D X4278, crashed and burned out on Amberfield Farm, Chart Sutton and Cutts was reported 'Missing'.
He was 20 years old and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 5.
In the summer of 1972 Cutts crash site was excavated but no human remains were found. Then in 1999 from a reappraisal of written records it was discovered that the body of an unknown airman had been discovered at Amberley (sic) Farm on 14th September 1940 and buried as such in Sittingbourne cemetery on 28th September. The evidence was strong enough for the authorities to erect a new headstone bearing Cutts name.
Sittingbourne Cemetery - Old Ground. Sect. W. Grave 143
Son of Thomas Wintringham Cutts and Daisy Josephine Cutts, of Felpham, Sussex.
Ref
CWGC
Battle of Britain Monument london
