W/C Thomas P Pugh DFC RAF – 103 Squadron / 263 Squadron / 182 Squadron – Pre war and WW2
2 August 1943 – 182 Squadron – Hawker Typhoon Ib - EK395 – Pugh - Op - Roadstead Operation. Attacked German warship and shot down by flak
Thomas Patrick Pugh of Farnborough, Hampshire was born in 1917 at Aldershot and educated at the Salesian College, Farnborough. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in July 1937 and was posted to 11 FTS Wittering on 18 September 1937. After completing his training he joined 103 Squadron at Usworth and served with them in France till early Mayl 1940. He was then temporarily grounded and invalided home just prior to commencement of the Battle of France as a result of an accident involving a car door and his hand.
L to R - Vipan, Murphy, Coverdale and Pugh - Usworth 1938
In early July 1940 Pugh was appointed OC 263 Squadron at Grangemouth which was equipped with the new Westland Whirlwind twin engined fighter in November 1940. He commanded the squadron from August 1941 until February 1942 and was awarded the DFC gazetted 21 October 1941 being then credited with two Ju88 and a Bf109 destroyed on the ground.
Westland Whirlwind of 263 Squadron
Pugh formed and then commanded 182 Squadron at Martlesham Heath from 1 September 1942.
He was killed on 2 August 1943 as an Acting Wing Commander with 182. On a Roadstead sortie Pugh broke off to attack a German warship in Dunkirk harbour but was shot down by flak in Hawker Typhoon 1b EK395. He was not recovered and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Hawker Typhoon IB Boscombe Down 1943
W/C Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC RAF – Pilot – 24 – 182 Sqn - Son of Thomas Garnet Pugh, and of Agnes Mary Pugh, of Farnborough, Hampshire – Runnymede Memorial.
Compiled by David Fell. Thanks to the Battle of Britain Memorial website. Photos from my archive and the WWP
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