Bio / Text:
< =
expand >
John Barton Yerby joined 54 Squadron RAF on 27th April 1943
116159 Flg Off J B Yerby -
1941- volunteered to fly combat for Britain. Travelled as a civilian to London, England and was commissioned as a pilot officer for the RAF Volunteer Reserve by the Air Ministry. He was assigned to train Spitfire Fighters.
In 1942 (est), his Squadron was sent to North Africa, then to Darwin (54 Sqn, 1 Fighter Wing) and was subsequently sent to Wadke and assigned to the 348th Fighter Grp.
On June 26, his plane crashed after take off (as described by his friend Roland Fisher: John crashed in the water after takeoff this morning. We found the wreckage from a boat and are still searching for it." He further explained that as John's plane passed over the end of the island, fire was seen to come from under it and it rolled on its back and went in ...
