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Wagner, Alan Derek (RAF)

Date of birth:
August 10th, 1914 (Croydon, Surrey)
Date of death:
July 18th, 1944
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Hawkinge Cemetery
Plot: O. Row: 3. Grave: 79.
Service number:
740760 (MCO)/65993 (Officer)
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Flight Lieutenant Alan Wagner was killed when while in pursuit of a V1 he flew into the ground at high speed in fog. Wagner was 29 years old at the time of his death.

Promotions:
? Sergeant
April 24th, 1941: Pilot Officer (probation)
May 1st, 1942: Flying Officer (war sub)
May 1st, 1943: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flying Officer
Unit:
No. 151 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
March 5th, 1943
Recommendation:
'In all his combats this Officer has displayed great determination and resource. During a patrol over this country one night in 1941, he sighted a Heinkel III but, whilst making his attack, his turret became jammed with his guns in the beam position. Despite this, he closed in on the enemy aircraft and, by skilfully manoeuvring his aircraft, he fired his guns from their rigid position and shot the enemy aircraft down. Flying Officer Wagner continued his patrol and sighted another enemy aircraft which he attacked and damaged by similar tactics. This Officer has rendered valuable service in the Middle East and, while in Ceylon, he destroyed two Japanese bombers."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
April 28th, 1944
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Recommendation:
"Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, this Officer has completed very many sorties at night and has displayed skill, gallantry and devotion to duty of a high order. One night in March 1944, whilst over enemy territory, Flight Lieutenant Wagner engaged first a Focke Wulf 190 and then two Messerschmitt 410s, all of which he shot down. In the last of these flights, Flight Lieutenant Wagner pressed home his attack at such close range that his aircraft was enveloped in burning petrol and oil which obscured the windscreen and the tail unit. Despite this, Flight Lieutenant Wagner intercepted another enemy aircraft which he attacked with damaging effect. He has now destroyed a further four enemy aircraft."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" clasp.
1939-1945 Star

Sources

  • Photo 1:
  • - The London Gazette Issue 35183 published on the 6 June 1941
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35675 published on the 18 August 1942
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35927 published on the 2 March 1943
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36094 published on the 13 July 1943
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36489 published on the 25 April 1944
    - Christies

Photo

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