The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G A Southorn

George Albert Southorn was born on 21st August 1911 and joined the RAFVR on 4th April 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. He was called up on 1st September and after completing his training joined 235 Squadron at Bircham Newton on 18th August 1940.

His flight of 235 Squadron was posted to RAF Aldergrove on 19th November 1940, where it combined with a flight of 236 Squadron to reform 272 Squadron on the 21st. He flew his first operational sortie with 272 on 24th November.

Southorn went to the Overseas Aircraft Delivery Flight at Kemble on 18th January 1941 and flew from Tangmere to join 69 Squadron at Luqa, Malta on 12th March.

Before leaving he married Clara Briggs, a WAAF Corporal, at Kemble.

Tour-expired, Southorn went as an instructor to 223 Squadron at Shandur, Egypt on 4th October 1941, then operating as an OTU. He went to South Africa on 27th January 1942 to instruct at 45 Air School Oudtshoorn.

On 12th September he went to 65 Air School Capetown for a Senior Armament Instructors course, after which he returned to Oudtshoorn.

He was promoted to Warrant Officer on 1st October 1942.

Commissioned from Warrant Officer in April 1943, Southorn was sent to HQ 25 Group Port Elizabeth on 1st November to the Central Examination Board, to take charge of all examinations on bombing and gunnery.

In mid-May 1944 Southorn was posted back to the UK, arriving in mid-August. He was posted to the Empire Air Armament School at Manby for a Specialist Armament Officers course and sat the final examination on the day after the war finished.

Southorn was released from the RAF later in 1945 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He died on 3rd August 2006.