John David Fox

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from John Hamblin, Researcher.

John David Fox, Flight Lieutenant 61485, 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Killed in action on the 25th of June 1944, aged 24.

John David Fox was born in London on the 31st of January 1920, the son of David Ely Fox, a merchant, and Dorothy Mary Fox (née Davies) Fox of 90, Brondesbury Road, Kilburn, London NW6. He was educated at Merchant Taylor's School from 1931 to 1937 where he served as a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps. He was a member of the 49th South West Hertfordshire (Merchant Taylor's) Scout Group, a member of the 2nd Cricket XI and was a keen member of the Debating Society. On leaving school he went to work for the brokers Willis, Faber & Dumas at Lloyd's.

He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at Cardington in September 1939 where he rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman, before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 12th of February 1941. He was confirmed in the rank of Pilot Officer and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 12th of February 1942. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 12th of February 1943.

He was posted to 255 Squadron which was based in Tunisia from where it operated in a night fighter role. He was later posted to 264 Squadron based at RAF Hartford Bridge. On the night of the 5th/6th of June 1944 he was engaged in operations to jam enemy radar during the allied invasion of Normandy.

John Fox and his Observer, Flying Officer Clifford Alfred Pryor, took off from RAF Hartford Bridge in Mosquito Mk XIII HK480 PS-P at 11.40pm on the 24th of June 1944 for a night beachhead patrol over Normandy. They were last heard of when they answered a routine radio call at 12.52am when all was well. The aircraft crashed at Annebault, some twelve kilometres to the south east of Dives-sur-Mer but the exact cause is unknown but it is thought he was hit by flak.

John Fox is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 202. He is also commemorated on the Willis Faber war memorial at the Willis Building in Lime Street and on the memorial at Merchant Taylor's School. He is also commemorated on the memorial at Lloyd’s of London.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of John Fox. If you are aware of one, or you are related to John, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.