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Dafforn, Robert Chippindall

Date of birth:
March 2nd, 1916 (Horton/Northamptonshire, Great Britain)
Date of death:
September 9th, 1943
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves St. Mary Churchyard
Row: E. Grave: 1.
Service number:
740804/81674
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Robert Dafforn was born on March 2nd, 1916 as the son of Edgar Robert and Alfrida Josephine Daffron.

On 9 September 1943, a Spitfire of the RAF Central Gunnery School flown by Dafforn crashed when a wing tip touched the ground during low flying.
The aircraft was destroyed and its pilot, Dafforn- the Chief Instructor of the Fighter Wing, CGS, was killed.


Promotions:
1939: Sergeant;
July 13th, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation (seniority April 25th, 1940);
July 13th, 1941: Pilot Officer;
July 13th, 1941: Flying Officer (war subs. seniority April 25th, 1941);
July 13th, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war subs. seniority April 25th, 1942);
1942: Temporary Squadron Leader.

Career:
1937 -1939: Pilot Training;
1939 - October 1940: No. 501 Squadron;
October 1940 - October 1941: Flight Leader No. 501 Squadron;
October 1941 - January 1942: Instructor No.56 Operational Training Unit;
January 1942 - April 1942: Middellandse Zee gebied;
April 1942: Squadron Leader No. 229 Squadron, Malta;
? - December 1942: Instructor No. 52 Opeartional Training Unit, Groot-Brittannië;
December 1942 - September 9th, 1943: OC-CFI CGS.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Unit:
No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
January 17th, 1941
Received for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air
operations.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Sources

Photo