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4 unusual facts about John Beech Austin


John Beech Austin

Training complete, he joined 51 Squadron in September 1940 located at RAF Dishforth in Yorkshire, but transferred in March 1941 to No 1419 (Special Duties) Flight (later 138 Squadron).

On 3 February 1942 Austin made an 11 hour round trip to drop four agents and eight containers of supplies to Sarajevo.

He flew up the Adriatic Sea and headed inland across the Yugoslav coast to the drop zone at Mitrovica.

Austin was made a sergeant at Cambridge and was then posted to RAF Filton just north of Bristol, along with the other soldiers whose surnames began with A, B, or C to Training Wing Number 2 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) – a grass aerodrome that was – like much of the airforce at that time – short of aircraft.



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