Date of birth:

January 31st, 1913 (Longhirst/Northumberland, Great Britain)

Date of death:

October 28th, 1941 (Manon Farm-Englishcombe/Somerset, Great Britain)

Service number:

90278

Nationality:

British

John Sample was born on January 31st, 1913 as the son of Thomas Norman Sample and Kate Isabel Sample. He was educated at the Aysgarth School in Yorkshire and the Lancing College.

Promotions:
April 27th, 1934: Pilot Officer;
October 27th, 1935: Flying Officer;
August 24th, 1939: Flight Lieutenant;
September 1st, 1940: Temporary Squadron Leader.

Career:
?: Land Agent Duke of Portland;
?: Auxiliary Air Force, Usworth;
April 27th, 1934: No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron;
January 10th, 1939: Flight Commander ‘B’ Flight, No. 607 Squadron;
May 1940: Commanding Officer No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron;
May 1941: Fighter Controller Headquarters No. 10 Group;
September 20th, 1941: Commanding Officer No. 137 Squadron.

Planes:
Avro 504 (Auxiliary Air Force);
Gypsy Moth (No. 607 Squadron);
Avro 505 (No. 607 Squadron);
Hawker Demon, K3800 (No. 607 Squadron);
Gloster Gladiator, K7995/AF-O (No. 607 Squadron);
Hawker Hurricane, P2615/Blue 1 (No. 607 Squadron);
Hawker Hurricane /R-TM(No. 504 Squadron);
Westland Whirlwind, P7053 (No. 137 Squadron).

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 4th, 1940

Citation:
"This officer was for most of the time in command of a Squadron which he led extremely well. He shot down two enemy aircraft during May, 1940, but was then shot down himself and forced to jump. He was a great inspiration to his squadron."

• Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
• - The London Gazette of 5th June 1934, Issue 34057
  - The London Gazette of 19th November 1935, Issue 34221
  - The London Gazette of 4th June 1940, Issue 34864
  - The London Gazette of 20th September 1940, Issue 34949
  - Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War