Sqn.Ldr. Herbert Selwyn (Selwyn) Giddings 1914 - 1943
Sqn.Ldr. Herbert Selwyn (Selwyn) Giddings , (Ghad). Joined the RAF in 1935. After his elementary training, he was posted to 3 FTS Grantham (28 Sep. 1935) and joined 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on 20th August 1936. Maybe he participated: Hornchurch 6-9-37 to 8-9-37 The Squadron co-operated with Messrs. Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer with formation flying and fighter attacks for the film "Shadow of the Wing". For Empire Air Day in 1938, the squadron was involved in mass flights over Greater London. In March and April 1939, the squadron was requipped with Spitfires, one of the first squadrons to be so equipped. The squadron was at Hornchurch at the outbreak of war. Following the outbreak of war, he was posted from Northolt to 615 Squadron at Croydon on 03 October 1939, and flew with it to Mirville on 15 Nov. 1939. On 18 Aug. 1940, he was posted from 615 to 111 Squadron at Debden, as a Flight Commander. On the 31st, he claimed a DO 17 destroyed. He made a forced landing at Detling in the middle of a bombing attack on Sep. 2, following an attack on HE 111s over the Thames Estuary. He claimed 2 BF 109s destroyed in a combat over the Channel on Sep. 4. His oil system was damaged and he made a forced landing at Catts Green farm, Ewhurst. In July 1942, he was given command of 135 Squadron at Dum Dum, India. Letter from Air Council was received saying he was shot down by the Japanese. (telegram RAF HQ, Bombay 3/2/1943) on the 23rd January 1943. He had been flying a Hurricane. He is remembered on the Singapore Memorial, Column 423 and on the Battle of Britain monument on The Embankment, London. His Flying Officer number was 37283. He is listed: http://math.fce.vutbr.cz/safarik/ACES/aces1/00_gb.html GREAT BRITAIN A list of the all the British pilots that took part in the The Battle Of Britain F/Lt. H.S.Giddings No 615 & 111 Hurricane and http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/squadrons/111sqn.htm and http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/squadrons/615sqn.htm and http://www.dyno-tech.com/bravo/index.shtml?category=10&view=8-00 Awarded Burma Star, Battle of Britain Bar, Africa Star + ?? Royal Air Force History 135 Squadron Badge History of No. 135 Squadron. Motto: Pennas ubique monstramus. - 'We show our wings everywhere' Badge: A peacock in its pride. No. 135 Squadron was formed at Hucknall on 1 April 1918 but did not become operational before being disbanded on 4 July 1918. On 15 August 1941, No. 135 reformed at Baginton with Hurricanes and became operational on 3 October for a month. The Squadron then moved to India arriving early in January to be immediately re-routed to Rangoon where it began operations on 26 January 1942 against Japanese aircraft attacking the area. The Squadron's ground echelon was evacuated to Calcutta when the Japanese attacked Burma during which its aircraft were almost entirely lost. Reformed at Calcutta, the Squadron began flying convoy patrols and in January 1943 began air defence duties and sweeps over Burma which lasted until No. 135 was withdrawn to southern India at the end of May. After acting as a conversion unit for Blenheim Squadrons being re-equipped with Hurricanes, it provided air defence of the area until re-equipped with Thunderbolts, the first arriving in May 1944 and conversion being completed by the end of August. On 16 October 1944, ground attack missions were resumed over Burma and continued until May 1945, when No. 135 was withdrawn from operations and became No. 615 Squadron on 10 June 1945. See: RAF Fighter Squadrons in the Battle of Britain by Anthony Robinson ISBN 1-86019-907-0 There is an entry in Andrews Newspaper Index Card 1790-1976. See http://www.bbm.org.uk/Giddings.htm His WWI number was 38273 The London Gazette 24 Jun 1938 The undermentioned Pilot Officers are promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on the dates stated:- 16th June 1938 Herbert Selwyn Giddings The London Gazette 16 July 1940 The undermentioned Flying Officers are ppromoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant:- 16th June 1940 Herbert Selwyn Giddings (37283) The London Gazette, 9 Sep 1941 Flight Lieutenants to be Squadron Leaders (temporary) Herbert Selwyn Giddings (37283) 1937-Battle of Britain: 111 Squadron were the first to be supplied with the Hurricane late 1937. Here is a list of pilots of 111 in the time frame.. A few photos are printed in the B of B Historical Society website. R H Atkinson, G S P Bain, J Bayly, A G Biggar, P Blaize, R J W Brown, D C Bruce, R F Bumstead, R Carnall, S D P Connors, J H H Copeman, J B Courtis, J T Craig, E E Croker, K Dawick, A H Deacon, R G Dutton. W L Dymond, H M Ferris, A G A Fisher, M B Fisher, H S Giddings, P R J Gilbert, K A G Graham, A H Gregory, C W Hampshire, H G Hardman, T P K Higgs, O Hruby, E R Jessop, J K Kay, M Kellett, O Kestler, V A Kopecky, J V Kucera, C W MacDougal, J Macinski, K M Macujowski, J L Malinski, M J Mansfield, A G McIntyre, J W McKenzie, H S Newton, B Olewinski, A D Page, O W Porter, R P R Powell, J Poplawski, J R Ritchie, D H Richards, J Robinson, R Sellers, L M Sharp, F H Silk, R B Simm, P J Simpson, R H Smythe, S Stegman, L J Tweed, K J Vykoural, ? Waghorn, T Y Wallace, R W M Walsh, R R Wilson, T V Worral. Fighter Command Air Combat Claims, 1939-45: 1939-1940 By John Foreman page 197 3 to 4 September 1940 111 Sqn Hurr FC F/L H.S. Giddings Bf109 destroyed SE Dungeness 09:00 F/L H.S. Giddings Bf109 destroyed SE Dungeness 09:00 F/L/ H.S. Giddings Bf109 damaged SE Dungeness 09:00 NA downloads: Description Squadron Number: 65 Summary of Events: Y Date 1934 July 01 - 1940 Apr 30 Catalogue reference AIR 27/592 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 65 Squadron: Operations Record Book. With appendices Description Squadron Number: 65 Appendices: Y Date 1938 Sept 01 - 1940 Aug 31 Catalogue reference AIR 27/596 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 65 Squadron: Operations Record Book: Appendices Description Squadron Number: 615 Records of Events: Y Date 1939 Nov 01 - 1939 Nov 30 Catalogue reference AIR 27/2123 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 615 Squadron: Operations Record Book Image contains 1 record of many from the catalogue reference. Description Squadron Number: 111 Records of Events: Y Date 1940 Aug 01 - 1940 Aug 31 Catalogue reference AIR 27/866 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 111 Squadron: Operations Record Book Image contains 1 record of many from the catalogue reference. Description Squadron Number: 111 Summary of Events: Y Date 1940 Aug 01 - 1940 Aug 31 Catalogue reference AIR 27/866 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 111 Squadron: Operations Record Book Description Squadron Number: 111 Summary of Events: Y Date 1940 Sept 01 - 1940 Sept 30 Catalogue reference AIR 27/866 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 111 Squadron: Operations Record Book Description Squadron Number: 111 Records of Events: Y Date 1940 Sept 01 - 1940 Sept 30 Catalogue reference AIR 27/866 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 111 Squadron: Operations Record Book Image contains 1 record of many from the catalogue reference. Description Squadron Number: 135 Records of Events: Y Date 1942 July 01 - 1942 July 31 Catalogue reference AIR 27/949 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 135 Squadron: Operations Record Book Image contains 1 record of many from the catalogue reference. Description Squadron Number: 135 Summary of Events: Y Date 1943 Jan 01 - 1943 Jan 31 Catalogue reference AIR 27/949 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 135 Squadron: Operations Record Book Image contains 1 record of many from the catalogue reference. Description Squadron Number: 135 Records of Events: Y Date 1943 Jan 01 - 1943 Jan 31 Catalogue reference AIR 27/949 Dept Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies Series Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons Piece No 135 Squadron: Operations Record Book Image contains 1 record of many from the catalogue reference. See - Singapore Memorial Burial or Cremation Place: Kranji, North West, Singapore
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| Born: 28 Jesson street, West Bromwich, , , England 28th Jan 1914 | Baptised:
| | Died: Lama, India, , 23rd Jan 1943 | Buried:
| | Family: Giddings of Orwell, Cambs. |
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