The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. H J Soars

Harold John Soars was born on 10th July 1918 and educated at Alderman Newton School in Leicester, on leaving he was employed by the Leicester Permanent Building Society.

He joined the RAFVR about December 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his elementary flying training at 7 EFTS Desford and then went on to 10 FTS Ternhill for No. 19 Course which ran from 11th April to 24th July 1940.

He arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 3rd August 1940 and after converting to Spitfires joined 74 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 21st August 1940.

On 1st November Soars was shot down in a surprise attack by Me109s during a patrol over Dover in Spitfire P7523, wounded. He was admitted to Victoria Hospital in Folkestone. The date of his rejoining 74 Squadron is not known.

Soars was promoted to Warrant Officer on 1st May 1942 and commissioned in October.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant. He served in the RAFVR from 1947 to 1955.

Soars died in December 1975 in Market Harborough.