Fewest of the Few Supplement

S32 Entry Graduated July 1934

SURNAME INITS LISTER RCF MacDONNELL ARD

S 32 Page 1 of 4 Cranwellian Participants

90 Flight cadets, 17 SFTS trainees and a transferee to the RAFVR, as far as our records show, each played their part in the . Here we summarise their efforts by squadron; a more detailed breakdown is available in our booklet, Battle of Britain.

Battle of Britain - 10 Group Participants

87 92 152 213 219 234 236 238

Cranwellian Participants

JS Dewar RH Holland RM Hogg DC Shepley90 Flight cadets,HF Atkinson 17 SFTS traineesKW Worsdell and a transfereeRE Barnett to the RAFVR,PE Drew as far as ourCEJ records Baines show, each played their part in the Battle of Britain. Here we summarise their efforts by squadron; a more detailed breakdown is available in our booklet, Battle of Britain.

CBF Kingcome JSB Jones C Warren HD Clark Battle of Britain - 10 GroupDTM Lumsden ParticipantsCT Davis

Lister, Robert Charles Franklin (S32 Entry, A Squadron) 87 41 9292 614 152 213 219 234 236 238

ES Marrs GW Montagu WEJ Measures RCFRobert Lister Charles Franklin Lister was born on 23rdAR AugustWatson 1913 and attendedJS Dewar Cheltenham College from 1927 to 1932. He entered Cranwell in September 1932, won the Groves RM Hogg DC Shepley HF Atkinson Memorial Prize in 1934 and, after graduating, he joined 13JS (Army Dewar Co-operation)RH Holland Squadron KW Worsdell RE Barnett PE Drew CEJ Baines at Netheravon on 28 July 1934.

Lister was posted to 20 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron at Peshawar on 28 February 1935. In 1937, he was supporting the Army, JSB Jones C Warren HD Clark operating in the mountains of Waziristan CBF Kingcome DTM Lumsden CT Davis against tribesmen led PGStG by the FakirO’Brian of Ipi.TS Wildblood WCLister Watling was awarded the DFC (gazetted 16 247 J Tillett August 1938) for gallant and distinguished service in operations in Waziristan from 16 September 1935 to 15 December 1937 He received a Mention in Despatches (gazetted RCF Lister ES Marrs AR Watson JS Dewar GW Montagu WEJ Measures 18th February 1938).

Back in the UK, Lister was posted to CFS Upavon for an instructor’s course, after which he went to 10 FTS Tern Hill. On 2 January IN Bayles WC Watling PGStG O’Brian TS Wildblood AR1939, Wright he was made Adjutant of 614 PGStG O’Brian247 J Tillett Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Cardiff.

In late 1939, Lister crashed during take-off with engine failure and fractured his spine. He was in plaster for nine months and was AR Wright IN Bayles given a temporary job at the Air Ministry. PGStG O’Brian Lister was cleared for flying duties in August 1940 and asked for a posting to Fighter Of the CranwelliansCommand. He was posted that to 7 OTU served Hawarden, converted in to squadrons Spitfires and then took within 10 Group (SW England), Charles temporary commandNot of 41 strictly Squadron part at Hornchurch of 11Of onGp, 8 theSeptember. but Cranwellians based He was at shot RAF down that Tangmere, served inthe squadrons Fighter Interception within 10 Unit Group was (SW England), those Davis (8 with on238 the 14 September Sqn), by an Me109Brian out of the Kingcome evening sun that no-one had (7 spotted, with whilst 92 Sqn), Harold Atkinson (6 with 213 Sqn), flying at the rear offormed a squadron and formation commanded in Spitfireaccredited R6605. by Peter Lister baled ‘aces’ Chamberlain, out when (i.e. the five following or more his ‘kills’) pioneering and the development greatest number work of successes were Allan Wright aircraft (6 caught also fire, onslightly air with wounded interception in the 92 arm. radar. Sqn)Charles Henry Davis and Eeles (8 with Eric is also 238 uniqueSqn), Marrs Brian in that Kingcome (5 he is with one (7 Cranwellian with 152 92 Sqn), Sqn) who Harold Atkinson are accredited (6 with On 22 September, declined he was attached the to offer 92 Squadron of 213the at Biggin BattleSqn), Hill Allanof as aBritain supernumerary. Wright Clasp, (6 also despite with 92having Sqn) earned and Eric it asMarrs OC (5263 with Sqn 152 Sqn). John Dewar ‘aces’ (i.e. fiveShortly or after more Lister'soperating arrival the‘kills’) OC wasWhirlwind burned with and Listerand(87 the took andHurricane command. 213greatest Sqns), aircraft. Peter Charles number Drew Bacon, (236 Sqn),ofFerdinand successes. Richard Baraldi Hogg and (152 David John Sqn), John Dewar Jones (152(87 and On 24 September,Fulford 92 Squadron were was scrambled three CranwellianSqn), to be part Douglas of a 'Big participants 'Shepley of three (152 who Sqn) received who theirlost his flying brother training at Dunkirk, from the and Kenneth Wordsell 213 Sqns), Petersquadrons. Time Drew was wasted and (236 it met a formation Sqn), of nine Ju88s Richard with a 100+ Me109 Hogg (152 Sqn), John Jones (152 Sqn), escort, head-on andSFTS slightly below.at RAF Cranwell.(219 Sqn) all paid the ultimate sacrifice. Douglas Shepley (152 Sqn) who lost his brother at Dunkirk, and Kenneth Wordsell (219 On 12 Group operations,By far Tim the Vigors greatestS 32 Page (222 number2 of 4 Sqn) of appears Cranwellians to have involved been the in the outstanding Battle of Britain operated on Sqn) all paid the ultimateCranwellian sacrifice. ‘ace’ withsquadrons five successes within during 11 Groupthe Battle (SE of England).Britain. The ‘aces’ were Aeneas MacDonnell (8½ ‘successes’ with 64 Sqn), Peter Townsend (8 with 85 Sqn), Henry Hogan (6 with 501 Sqn) Arguably a better knownand Cranwellian John Badger in (512 with Group 43 wasSqn). Sir Those Douglas who Bader lost their who, lives as onOC Ops 242 within 11 Group were By far the greatest numberSqn, famously ofadvocated CranwelliansChristopher the ‘Big Andreae Wing ’ (64involvedOps Sqn),concept John despite in Badger the fierce (43 Battle opposition Sqn), Charles offrom BritainBacon11 (610 operated Sqn), John on Gp who, being closerChomley to the enemy (257 Sqn),lines, could Philip not Cox assemble (501 Sqn), a comparable John Davey ‘Big (1 Sqn),Wing’ Ianin Donald (141 Sqn), squadrons within 11time Group to repel the (SEoncomingGeoffrey England). Gaunt forces;(609 Sqn), Thethey Hilary opted ‘aces’ Hoodfor finger (41 fourSqn), were formations Noel Aeneas Hall attacking(257 Sqn), MacDonnell David Hanson (17 (8½ the enemy aircraft in Sqn),pairs, Johna mode Lecky d’emploi (41 Sqn), which Richard was to Lee become (85 Sqn), SOP Johnin ‘Rodeo McKenzie’ fighter (111 Sqn), Miles Miley ‘successes’ with 64 Sqn), Peter Townsend(25 Sqn), Henry Sawyer (8 with (65 Sqn) 85 and Sqn), Rodney WilkinsonHenry (266 Hogan Sqn). (6 with 501 Sqn) sweeps over France after the Battle of Britain had been won. Bader was attributed four and John Badger (5successes with). (1½ Thosex Do 17, 1 x whoBf109, 1 lostx Bf110) their in the Battle lives of Britain. on It Opsis postulated within that 11Page Group 13 of 32 were Nothe strictly was shot part down of - 11some Gp, believe but blue-on-bluebased at RAF- in 1941, Tangmere, captured bythe the Fighter Germans Interception and Unit was Christopher Andreaeformedenjoyed (64 and the Sqn), commandedhospitality John of Colditz by Badger PeterCastle tillChamberlain, the (43end of Sqn),the war. following Charles his pioneering Bacon development (610 Sqn), work John on air interception radar. Henry Eeles is also unique in that he is one Cranwellian who Chomley (257 Sqn),Having Philip been Coxposted from (501 1 Sqn Sqn), to 242 Sqn John on 21 DaveySeptember, Michael (1 Sqn), Homer was Ian shot Donald (141 Sqn), declineddown and the killed offer on 27of Septemberthe Battle when of Britainhis Hurricane Clasp, aircraft despite P2967 havingcrashed intoearned a wood it as OC 263 Sqn Geoffrey Gaunt (609operatingnear Sqn), Sittingbourne. Whirlwind Hilary andHood Hurricane (41 Sqn), aircraft. Noel Charles Hall Bacon, (257 Ferdinand Sqn), BaraldiDavid and Hanson David (17 Sqn), John Lecky Fulford(41 Sqn), were Richard three Cranwellian Lee (85 participants Sqn), John who received McKenzie theirPage flying14(111 of 32 trainingSqn), fromMiles the Miley (25 Sqn), Henry SawyerSFTS at (65RAF Sqn)Cranwell. and Rodney Wilkinson (266 Sqn). On 12 Group operations, Tim Vigors (222 Sqn) appears to have been the outstanding Cranwellian ‘ace’ with five successes during the Battle of Britain. Page 13 of 26

Arguably a better known Cranwellian in 12 Group was Sir who, as OC 242 Sqn, famously advocated the ‘Big Wing’ Ops concept despite fierce opposition from 11 Gp who, being closer to the enemy lines, could not assemble a comparable ‘Big Wing’ in time to repel the oncoming Luftwaffe forces; they opted for finger four formations attacking the enemy aircraft in pairs, a mode d’emploi which was to become SOP in ‘Rodeo’ fighter sweeps over France after the Battle of Britain had been won. Bader was attributed four successes (1½ x Do 17, 1 x Bf109, 1 x Bf110) in the Battle of Britain. It is postulated that he was shot down - some believe blue-on-blue - in 1941, captured by the Germans and enjoyed the hospitality of Colditz Castle till the end of the war.

Having been posted from 1 Sqn to 242 Sqn on 21 September, Michael Homer was shot down and killed on 27 September when his Hurricane aircraft P2967 crashed into a wood near Sittingbourne. Page 14 of 26 After a general break Lister, in X4427, found himself alone and being circled by some nine Me109's. He was eventually hit by a cannon shell in the bottom of the cockpit and wounded in both legs. He went into a spin, managed to get back to Biggin Hill, but had only one flap working, causing him to go out of control into a skidding diving turn which fortunately took the Spitfire into a valley below the level of the airfield. Lister regained control, made a landing without flaps and stopped ten yards short of a wood at the far end.

After long hospital treatment, Lister was declared medically unfit for flying duties in June 1941 and posted to the Operations Room at Biggin Hill as Controller.

In April 1942, he became SASO at HQ 219 Group at Alexandria and in October 1943 became CO 209 Group at Haifa.

From September 1944 until July 1945, Lister was on the staff at Air HQ Eastern Mediterranean, after which he commanded RAF Amman, Jordan, until March 1946, when he was posted back to the UK. Lister later commanded RAF Wattisham and was subsequently SOA at HQ 64 Group.

He was Station Commander at RAF Newton when he retired on 31st October 1954 as a Wing Commander, retaining the rank of Group Captain.

He died in March 1998.

______

S 32 Page 3 of 4

MacDonell, Aeneas Ranald Donald (S32 Entry, B Squadron) 54 64

Born in Baku, Southern Russia, where his father, Aeneas Ranald Donald MacDonell, was British vice-consul, he was educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex, where he captained the Rugby XV and Shooting Eight. He entered the RAF College in September 1932, graduating on 28 July 1934 and joining 54 Squadron at Hornchurch.

After he qualified as a fighter pilot at CFS Upavon on 22 January 1939, he was appointed Flight Commander at 13 FTS, Drem, East Lothian at the time war broke out.

Aged 25 and with the rank of Squadron Leader, he led No 64 Squadron of Spitfire fighters from Kenley in Surrey. He was never far from the thick of the action and within one month he had downed eight enemy aircraft in dog-fights with three other possible kills, a feat that won him the Distinguished Flying Cross.

His luck ran out in March 1941 when he was shot down over the Channel and had to ditch in the sea where he was picked up by a German E-boat. He was a PoW for the rest of the war and became adjutant in charge of the Allied prisoners at Stalag Luft III. From there, he helped organise repeated freedomOur bids, research including has the famed been ''Wooden unable Horse'' to verify escape, some of the squadron movements and when prisoners used a vaulting horse as a cover for the tunnel they were digging under Not strictly part of 11 Gp, but basedthe at perimeter RAF fence, an episodeTangmere, which(re)deployments, became the basis the but for wea book Fighter have and film. established Interception the contribution made byUnit Cranwellians was in 11 squadrons (56, 151, 249, 253, 264, 312, 601, 603 605, 615 and 616 Sqns) which were formed and commanded by Peter Chamberlain,It was while a PoW that hefollowing deployed inherited the across clan chiefdom,Fighterhis Command pioneering and after theduring war the held Battle development of Britain. work appointments in the War Office and was Chief Flying Instructor at RAF Cranwell. After a year at Cambridge reading Russian, he was promoted to Air Commodore and appointed on air interception radar. Henry EelesAir Attache is to the also British Embassy uniqueOf in the Moscow, ‘Pan-Group’ where in his that airmenknowledge shown he of the below,language is oneall and were flight Cranwellian cadets except for Percival who Ross- the country made him an ideal choiceFrames for his Burton Cold War and ''spy'' Geoffrey activities. Page, both of whom underwent flying training at the SFTS declined the offer of the Battle of Britain Clasp, despiteCranwell. having earned it as OC 263 Sqn He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1964 after four years at the still- fledgling Ministry of Defence, whichRichard exercised Barclay his diplomatic (249 Sqn) skills. was On retirementan ‘ace’, fromdestroying the five Luftwaffe aircraft. operating Whirlwind and Hurricane aircraft.MoD, he moved into theCharles construction industry, Bacon, finally retiring in 1981Ferdinand to Fortrose, where he Baraldi and David was known simply as Donald and a popular figure in the village. Fulford were three Cranwellian participants who FV Beamish received is one of the their famous flying Beamish brothers training and entered from the College the with a Not Wakefieldstrictly part Scholarship. of 11 Gp,He was but a verybased “hands-on” at RAF station Tangmere, commander the of RAFFighter North InterceptionWeald, Unit was flying regularly with his resident squadrons (56, 151, 249 and 257 when in 11 Group). We SFTS at RAF Cranwell. formedhave and been commanded only able to verify by Peter (but have Chamberlain, no reason to following dispute) four his of pioneering his claims of development 10 work on airenemy interception aircraft destroyed. radar. Henry Following Eeles the award is also of an unique AFC before in that the he war, is he one was Cranwellian who declinedmentioned the offer in despatches of the inBattle February of Britain 1940, appointed Clasp, adespite companion having of the earned DSO in Julyit as OC 263 Sqn 1940, awarded a DFC in November 1940 and a bar to the DSO in September 1941, and On 12 Group operations, Tim Vigors (222 Sqn)operatingfinally appears was Whirlwind mentioned and in to despatches Hurricane have again aircraft. been in January Charles 1942. the As Bacon, outstandingan Acting Ferdinand Wg Cdr, he wasBaraldi and David Fulfordkilled werein action three in March Cranwellian 1942. participants who received their flying training from the Cranwellian ‘ace’ with five successes during theSFTS Battle at RAF of Cranwell. Britain. Of others from these “Pan-Group” Squadrons, three pilots lost their lives in 11 Group operations - Percival Burton, Noel Benson and Peter Crofts. On 12 Group operations, Tim Vigors (222 Sqn) appears to have been the outstanding Arguably a better known Cranwellian in 12 GroupCranwellian was ‘ace’Sir withDouglas five successesS 32 BaderPage 4during of 4 the who, Battle ofas Britain. OC 242 Sqn, famously advocated the ‘Big Wing’ OpsArguably concept a better despiteknown Cranwellian fierce in 12 opposition Group was Sir Douglas from Bader 11 who, as OC 242 Sqn, famously advocated the ‘Big Wing’ Ops concept despitePage fierce 16 of opposition 32 from 11 Gp who, being closer to the enemy lines, couldGp notwho, beingassemble closer to the a enemy comparable lines, could not ‘Bigassemble Wing’ a comparable in ‘Big Wing’ in time to repel the oncoming Luftwaffe forces; they opted for finger four formations attacking time to repel the oncoming Luftwaffe forces; theythe enemy opted aircraft for in fingerpairs, a mode four d’emploi formations which was to attacking become SOP in ‘Rodeo’ fighter the enemy aircraft in pairs, a mode d’emploi whichsweeps overwas France to become after the Battle SOP of Britain in had‘Rodeo been won.’ fighter Bader was attributed four successes (1½ x Do 17, 1 x Bf109, 1 x Bf110) in the Battle of Britain. It is postulated that sweeps over France after the Battle of Britainhe had was shot been down - won. some believe Bader blue-on-blue was - attributed in 1941, captured four by the Germans and successes (1½ x Do 17, 1 x Bf109, 1 x Bf110)enjoyed in the the hospitalityBattle ofof Colditz Britain. Castle tillIt the is end postulated of the war. that he was shot down - some believe blue-on-blueHaving - in been 1941, posted fromcaptured 1 Sqn to 242 by Sqn the on 21Germans September, Michael and Homer was shot down and killed on 27 September when his Hurricane aircraft P2967 crashed into a wood enjoyed the hospitality of Colditz Castle till the endnear Sittingbourne. of the war. Page 14 of 32 Having been posted from 1 Sqn to 242 Sqn on 21 September, Michael Homer was shot down and killed on 27 September when his Hurricane aircraft P2967 crashed into a wood near Sittingbourne. Page 14 of 32