The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G A Stroud

George Alfred Stroud was born on 8th October 1920 in London and joined the RAFVR in April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot, he did his weekend flying at 23 E&RFTS Rochester. Stroud was called to full-time service at the outbreak of war and completed his flying training at 15 FTS Lossiemouth.

He was then posted to 10 OTU at Bassingbourn, moved to 11 OTU Benson and then joined 150 Squadron at Newton in July 1940, as a Fairey Battle pilot.

A call was made in August for pilots for Fighter Command and Stroud volunteered. He was posted to 504 Squadron at Catterick on 9th September, moved to 32 Squadron at Acklington on the 16th and finally joined 249 Squadron at North Weald.

Above 249 Squadron L to R: Stroud, Sgt. GCC Palliser, Sgt. JP Mills, Sgt. HJ Davidson

On the 29th he claimed a Me110 destroyed. On 5th December Stroud was shot down in flames by Me109's over the south coast in Hurricane V7677. He baled out and was admitted to Rye Hospital with burns. Stroud later went to the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead for plastic surgery and became a Guinea Pig.

He was posted away in mid-1941 to go to the Middle East. He landed at Takoradi and made his way north in stages, eventually joining 33 Squadron at Amriya on 12th August. Stroud served with 33 in the Western Desert until 6th January 1942 when he was posted to 73 OTU Sheik Othman, Aden.

He destroyed a Fiat G50 whilst in the Western Desert.

Stroud joined the Aden Defence Flight at Khormaksar on 1st October 1942. Commissioned from Warrant Officer in January 1943, he returned to 73 OTU, then at Abu Sueir, on 27th February. He was posted away on 2nd April and joined 274 Squadron on 22nd May.

Stroud moved with the squadron to Italy in early March 1944, returned to the UK with it in April, arriving at Hornchurch on the 22nd. He was attached to CGS Catfoss on 19th July, went to 53 OTU Kirton-in-Lindsey on 4th September and remained there until 29th November 1945.

Stroud was sent to 2 FIS Montrose for an instructor's course on 6th December after which he was posted to 17 FTS Spitalgate on 6th July 1946.

He was released from the RAF in late January 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant. Stroud joined the flying staff at Short Brothers, Rochester and later instructed in the RAFVR at 24 RFS.

He was awarded Aero Certificate 23833 while serving on 31st December 1947 (his licence photo below).

Stroud died on 3rd October 1998.