Date of birth:

October 3rd, 1913 (India)

Date of death:

September 24th, 1954

Service number:

564115/46253

Nationality:

British

Stanley Arnfield was educated in India. He joined the Royal Air Force in as an apprentice in 1930 and qualified in 1933 as a fitter, aero engines. He was sent to India in 1935 and was based at Quetta, where he helped out with the earthquake tragedy.
He returned to the UK in 1937 and was accepted for pilot training
Arnfield had his first flight on a Hurricane on 30th September 1938, and transferred to 610 Squadron in September 1939 as a Sergeant.
He had his first kill on 31st May in the Dunkirk area, with a confirmed Me110. His second kill was on the 12th June. Arnfield continued throughout June and July on a large number of patrols but without any further kills. On the 24th of August when patrolling at Hawkinge he was shot down by Josef Fözö and baled out. He broke his ankle on landing and was admitted to Victoria Hospital in Deal. His stricken aircraft crashed in flames at Hammill near Eastry.
After serving a spell as a Flying Instructor, having spent the majority of training in Canada, he transferred to Bomber Command.
In September 1943 Arnfield began training on Wellingtons, then progressed up to Lancasters. His first bombing raid was on 16th December on Berlin with 166 Squadron. Many operations were to follow with missions to Stettin, Brunswick, Leipzig and Stuttgart, with his last raid being on Dusseldorf on 22nd April 1944. His remaining wartime flying was purely training, and he finished his flying in February 1945. He retired from the RAF in 1951 and died on three years later of a heart attack.

He was also awarded
- India General Service 1908-1935, one bar, North West Frontier
- India General Service 1936-1939, one bar, North West Frontier 1936-37

Promotions:
? Sergeant
26th July, 1941: Pilot Officer (probation)
26th July, 1942: Flying Officer (war sub)
26th July, 1943: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
11th March, 1946: Transfer to the Special Duties and Secretarial Branche
5th December, 1946: extended commission
1st January, 1947:Transfer to the Secretarial Branche
12th February, 1951: Retirement on account of medical unfitness for air force service retaining the rank of Squadron Leader

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 30th, 1944

Citation:
"Flight Lieutenant Arnfield, now on his second tour of operational duty, has taken part in a large number of fighting and bombing sorties. His targets include some of the enemy's most heavily defended objectives. In January 1944 he was detailed to attack Berlin, and although one engine of his aircraft failed while on the outward flight, he pressed on and completed his mission. On another occasion and while en route to Stuttgart, Flight Lieutenant Arnfield encountered severe icing and one engine failed; nevertheless he flew on and attacked the target successfully. An excellent Captain of aircraft, this officer has set a high standard of operational efficiency and constantly displayed courage and devotion to duty."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" clasp

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
• - SHORES, CH., Those Other Eagles, Grub Street, London, 2004.
  - The London Gazette Issue 35260 published on the 29 August 1941
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35727 published on the 29 September 1942
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36140 published on the 17 August 1943
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36589 published on the 27 June 1944
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37776 published on the 1 November 1946
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37870 published on the 31 January 1947
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37958 published on the 16 May 1947
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39152 published on the 16 February 1951
  - Bonhams