History In 1942, the Air Ministry made the decision to compile a list from records of the names of pilots who had lost their lives as a result of the fighting during the Battle of Britain[notes 1] for the purpose of building a national memorial. This became the Battle of Britain Chapel at Westminster Abbey, which was unveiled by King George VI on 10 July 1947.[4] The Roll of Honour within the Chapel contains the names of 1,497 pilots and aircrew killed or mortally wounded during the Battle.[5] Nothing was done officially, however, to define the qualifications for the classification of a Battle of Britain airman until 9 November 1960. AMO N850, published by the Air Ministry, stated for the first time the requirements for the awarding of the Battle of Britain Star, and listed the 71 units which were deemed to have been under the control of RAF Fighter Command.[6] In 1955 Flt Lt John Holloway, a serving RAF officer, began a personal challenge to compile a complete list of "The Few". After fourteen years of research Flt Lt Holloway had 2,946 names on the list. Of these airmen, 537 were killed during the Battle or later died of wounds received. Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, founded by Geoffrey Page, raised funds for the construction of the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone in Kent. The Memorial, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on 9 July 1993, shares the site with the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall on which a complete list of "The Few" is engraved.[7] More recently, the Battle of Britain Monument on the Victoria Embankment in London was unveiled on 18 September 2005 by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. The idea for the monument was conceived by the Battle of Britain Historical Society which then set about raising funds for its construction. The outside of the monument is lined with bronze plaques listing all the Allied airmen who took part in the Battle.[8] [edit]Notes on table Ranks given are those held during the Battle of Britain, although a higher rank may have been achieved after the Battle. All individuals listed in bold and highlighted in silver are believed to be still alive. Aircrew listed as KIA, MIA, WIA or KIFA during the Battle of Britain are highlighted in blue. The awards listed include those made during the Battle of Britain and during the remainder of World War II, as well as any made post-war. In order to limit the numbers of footnotes which would otherwise be required, the symbol â¡ under "Notes" indicates several entries in the text of Ramsay 1989, while the symbol â indicates that information on the circumstances under which an airman became a casualty during the Battle is included in the text of the book. Where more than one crew member of a multi place aircraft was involved this is included as a cross-reference under "Notes" In addition to 2,353 British aircrew, the RAF Roll of Honour recognises 574 personnel from other countries;[3] namely: Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Poland, Rhodesia, South Africa and the United States.[9] [edit]Abbreviations (CO) after "Sqn" denotes Commanding Officer of that squadron, as per the RAF Fighter Command Order of Battle on 15 September 1940, unless otherwise indicated. (FAA) after a rank denotes a member of the Fleet Air Arm rather than the RAF. "KIA" - "killed in action" "KIFA" - "killed in flying accident", i.e. not during combat "MIA" - "missing in action". "WIA" - "wounded in action" leading to death which, in some cases, may have occurred months later. "POW" - "prisoner of war". For details of RAF rank abbreviations, see RAF Commissioned Officer Ranks and RAF Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks. For details of FAA rank abbreviations, see FAA Commissioned Officer Ranks. Nationalities AME American AUS Australian BEL Belgian BR British CAN Canadian CZ Czechoslovakian FR French IRE Irish NZ New Zealander POL Poland RHO Rhodesian SA South African Awards Award Title Notes AE Air Efficiency Award Awarded for ten years' efficient service in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force AFC Air Force Cross Awarded for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy". CB Companion in The Order of the Bath Awarded at the monarch's pleasure CDeG Croix de guerre A military decoration of both France and Belgium, also commonly bestowed to foreign military forces allied to France and Belgium. CdeL Croix de la Libération A decoration of France awarded for very meritorious conduct with the Free French Forces during World War II. CdeLd'H Croix de Légion d'honneur A decoration of France awarded for excellent civil or military conduct delivered, upon official investigation. CdeLL Croix de L'Ordre de Leopold Awarded to Belgian nationals or some distinguished foreign persons who made very important contributions to the Belgian state or society. DFC Distinguished Flying Cross Awarded to Royal Air Force commissioned officers and Warrant Officers for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".[citation needed] DFC* Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a second award. DFC** Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar A second bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC and Bar who received a third award. DFM Distinguished Flying Medal Awarded to military below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".[citation needed] DSO Distinguished Service Order Awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. DSO* Distinguished Service Order and Bar A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DSO who received a second award. DSO** Distinguished Service Order and Two Bars A second bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DSO and Bar who received a third award. GCB Knight Grand Cross of The Order of the Bath Awarded at the monarch's pleasure KCVO Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Awarded for personal service to the sovereign KStJ Knight of the Order of Saint John KZ Krzyz Zaslugi, Polish "Cross of Merit" Awarded for exemplary public service or humanitarian work that goes above and beyond the call of duty. MBE Member of the Order of the British Empire Awarded at the monarch's pleasure MC Military Cross Awarded for "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land to all members, of any rank".[citation needed] MM Military Medal Awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire OBE Officer of the Order of the British Empire Awarded at the monarch's pleasure OStJ Officer of the Order of Saint John VC Victoria Cross Highest British military decoration, awarded for valour in the face of the enemy. VM Virtuti Militari Highest Polish military award for courage in the face of the enemy. [edit]A Name Rank Nationality Sqn during Battle Awards Notes Adair, Hubert Hastings "Paddy Sgt BR 213 & 151 Sqns [10] MIA 6 November 1940 Adams, Dennis Arthur Plt Off BR 611 & 41 Sqn Retired May 1958 as a Squadron Leader; died 1995 Adams, Eric Henry Sgt BR 236 Sqn Adams, Hugh Charles Plt Off BR 501 Sqn KIA 6 September 1940 (Pilot) Shot down in combat with a Bf 109 over Ashford in Hurricane P3089[11] Adams, John Sylvester Flt Lt BR 29 Sqn DFC Adams, Reginald Thomas Flt Sgt BR 264 Sqn KIA 30 June 1942 Germany (Air Gunner) Addison, William Nathan Sgt BR 23 Sqn DFC DFM Aeberhardt, Raymond Andre Charles Plt Off BR 19 Sqn KIA 31 August 1940 (Pilot) Spitfire R6912 overturned and burned landing at RAF Fowlmere following combat damage to flaps.[11] Agazarian, Noel le Chevalier Plt Off BR 609 Sqn KIA 16 May 1941 (North Africa) (Pilot) Aindow, Charles Robert AC2 BR 23 Sqn Died 3 February 2010 Ainge, Eric Douglas Sgt BR 23 Sqn Ainsworth, Sidney Sgt BR 23 Sqn Aitken, Arthur Sgt BR 219 Sqn Aitken, Henry Aloysius Sgt BR 54 Sqn Aitken, Sir John William Maxwell "Max", 2nd Baron Beaverbrook Sqn Ldr BR 601 Sqn (CO) DSO, DFC Died 30 April 1985 Akroyd, Harold John Plt Off BR 152 Sqn WIA 7 October 1940, Died 8 October 1940 Shot down in Spitfire N3039 during combat with fighters over Lyme Regis. Died the next day from burns received in the crash landing.[11] Albertini, Anthony Victor Sgt BR 600 Sqn Aldous, Eric Stanley Plt Off BR 600 Sqn KIA 16 October 1941: Hit by AA over Flushing, NL, whilst serving with 615 Sqdn. Aldridge, Frederick Joseph Plt Off BR 610 & 41 Sqns Born Dublin, Ireland. Commended for Valuable Services in the Air 1945. Released from RAF 1947 Aldridge, Keith Russell Plt Off BR 32 & 501 Sqns Aldwinckle, Aylmer James Martinus Plt Off BR 601 Sqn Alexander, Edward Ariss Sgt BR 236 Sqn MIA 25 February 1941 Alexander, John William Edward Plt Off BR 151 Sqn Allard, Geoffrey Plt Off BR 85 Sqn DFC, DFM* KIFA 13 March 1941 (Pilot) Allcock, Peter Owen Denys Plt Off BR 229 Sqn Died WIA 17 December 1941 (Egypt) Allen, Hubert Raymon Plt Off BR 66 Sqn DFC Died 2010 Allen, John William Sgt BR 266 Sqn Allen, John Henry Leslie Fg Off NZ 151 Sqn MIA 12 July 1940 Hurricane P3275 hit by return fire from a Dornier Do 17 while protecting convoy off Orfordness. Ditched in the sea.[11] Allen, John Lawrence Fg Off BR 54 Sqn DFC KIA 24 July 1940 Spitfire R6812 crashed and burned at Cliftonville following damage to the engine in combat with Bf 109s over Margate.[11] Allen, Kenneth Mervyn Flt Sgt BR 43, 257 & 253 Sqns Allen, Leslie Henry Sgt BR 141 Sqn Allgood, Harold Henry Sgt BR 85 & 253 Sqns KIFA 10 October 1940 (Pilot) Hurricane L1928 of 25
