Bio / Text:
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Gilbert Graham Fairley Draper was born in Lewisham, London on 7th December 1920 and attended Uppingham School from 1934 to 1937.
He joined the RAF on a short service commission in August 1939 and began his elementary flying at 19 E&RFTS Gatwick and finished it at 18 E&RFTS Fair Oaks.
In October 1939 Draper was posted to 3 FTS South Cerney. After he completed his course in April 1940, he was posted to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum and in May joined 2 Squadron at Sawbridgeworth.
Draper volunteered for Fighter Command in August and was posted to 7 OTU Hawarden. He converted to Spitfires and joined 610 Squadron at Acklington on 3rd September and moved to 41 Squadron at Hornchurch on the 29th.
During a combat over Ashford on 30th October Draper was shot down in Spitfire P7282. He crashed at New Barn Farm, Postling, slightly injured and was taken to Willesborough Hospital.
On 7th August 1941 Draper was shot down over Fruge, near Lille in Spitfire Vb W3635 and was captured. Possibly shot down by Fw Ludwig Spinner 4./JG2. Fruge @ 6,500m
At some time he was held in Stalag Luft III at Sagan and Belaria. PoW Number 3669. Freed in early May 1945, he went on to the RAFO on 1st September 1945.
Draper died in 1997.
Ref
Battle of Britain Monument London
RAF Commands Air Force PoW's
Luftwaffe Aerial Kills 1941 - Jan J. Šafařík
