The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J E Symonds
John Edward Symonds was born on 23rd June 1914 in Tottenham and joined the RAFVR in August 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and joined 236 Squadron at St. Eval in September 1940.
He was a member of the crew of a Blenheim damaged by return fire from a Bv138 flying boat engaged off South-West Ireland on 30th November. After returning to St. Eval Symonds and the pilot, Sgt. JD Keynes, were admitted to Truro Hospital with shell splinter wounds.
Commissioned in August 1941, his subsequent service is currently undocumented until Symonds was released from the RAF in 1947 as a Flight lieutenant. He later rejoined the RAFVR.
Symonds died in April 2001 in Stoke-on-Trent. He was cremated in that city on 9th May. He was described at the time as a retired paper mill manager.
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