Moss, John

Date of birth:: May 6th, 1922 (Urmston/Manchester, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: October 14th, 1946 (Jerantut/Pahang, Malaysia)
Service number:: 1062371 (NCO)/118471 (Officer)
Nationality:: British

Biography

After enlisting into the R.A.F.V.R. John Moss he was trained in Rhodesia under the Southern Rhodesian Air Training Scheme. Upon completion of his training he was posted to Egypt early 1942 where flew anti-bomber interception and photo/tactical reconnaissance missions.
Between late 1943 and early 1944 he was located in Lakatamia, in Nicosia, Cyprus.
He demobilised in Malaya in 1946, when he took up work on a rubber plantation. As an Assistant Manager on the Jerantut Estate near Pahang, he was shot and killed during an ambush by six Chinese Terrorists on the 14th of October 1948, at the age of just 26.

Promotions:
? Temporary Flight Sergeant
26 August, 1941: Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency)
26 August, 1942: Flying Officer (war sub)
26 August, 1943: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
7 July, 1946: Commission resigned

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Pilot Officer
Unit:: No. 208 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: March 27th, 1942

Citation:
‘‘One day in January, 1942, this officer carried out a photographic reconnaissance of the battle area. While making his run over the area at 20,000 feet, Pilot Officer Moss observed 3 enemy fighters flying to intercept him Nevertheless, he continued his run for some 8 minutes and, when the attackers prepared to engage him, he put his aircraft into a violent turn and spiralled down to 4,000 feet, which caused the windscreen and hood to become iced-up and reduced his visibility to a minimum. When below 4,000 feet, the ice cleared and Pilot Officer Moss observed that the enemy fighters were still in pursuit but, adopting both skill and disconcerting tactics, he cleverly evaded the enemy. He finally eluded his pursuers in a sand storm near a landing ground but he was unable to land there owing to the sand storm. Realising, however, that his petrol was becoming exhausted he flew clear of the tents and mechanised transports and made a safe landing with the undercarriage of his aircraft retracted and without incurring any damage to his camera. He then commandeered a vehicle and returned to his squadron with his photographs. Pilot Officer Moss displayed courage and resource in accomplishing a most valuable reconnaissance."

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 680 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: December 17th, 1943

Citation:
"This officer has completed a very large number of reconnaissances and has displayed exceptional skill and great devotion to duty. In October, 1943, Flight Lieutenant Moss successfully completed a reconnaissance over an area near Cos Island, obtaining valuable information. Some days later, he undertook a similar mission in the Dodecanese area. In spite of heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. Flight Lieutenant Moss persisted in his task and secured highly important information. This officer has displayed great courage and resolution."

Second DFC awarded as a Bar.