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The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D J Steadman

 

Dennis James Steadman was born on 10th August 1917 in Epping and joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 4th August 1940.

After converting to Spitfires he joined 54 Squadron at Hornchurch on 18th August. His first flight was made on the 20th.

 

 

Steadman moved to 245 Squadron at Aldergrove on 27th September for further training. He was posted from 245 to 46 Squadron at Stapleford Tawney on 18th October 1940.

On 10th February 1941 he was taking part in Circus 5, a raid on Calais docks, when he was shot down in Hurricane II V7443. He brought it down on a sandbank and swam ashore.

Commissioned in March 1941, his subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

He may have been posted to South Africa as an instructor as he married Joyce Weir Smith on 23rd January 1943 at St. Mary the Virgin Cathedral in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He died in Johannesburg in 1994.

 

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