Lewis, Albert Gerald.

Lewis, Albert Gerrald, born 18-04-1918, in Kimberley, South Africa, and attended Kimberley Boys’ High School. Albert joined the Royal Air Force when he was 20. He flew with No. 616 Squadron at the outbreak of hostilities as a ferry pilot. No. 616 Squadron had three different commanders during 1940: Squadron Leader Walter K. Beisiegel, Squadron Leader Marcus Robinson, and Squadron Leader Howard Frezelle Burton  Albert was confirmed in his pilot officer rank in November. He then moved to No. 504 Squadron, under command of Squadron Leader Francis Victor Beamish, flying Hurricanes. On 28 March, Beamish was flying with the New Zealand No. 485 Squadron, under command of Squadron Leader Marcus William Bower Knight, which operated from Kenley, on a sweep involving eight RAF squadrons along the French coast; the intention was to draw out Luftwaffe fighters. A formation of Fw 190s was sighted near Cap Griz Nez and in the engagement which followed, Beamish was attacked and damaged by a Fw 190, nicknamed Würger. Albert requested a position over the radio and was last sighted crossing the French coast. Presumed to have crashed into the English Channel, he, age 38, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runneymeade Memorial at Englefield Green.

Albert then moved to No. 85 Squadron under command of Squadron Leader Peter Wooldridge Townsend , in France in April 1940. On 19 May he shot down five enemy aircraft before he was himself shot down over Lille.

On 29 April Lewis married Betty Yvonne Coxon at St. Paul’s Church, Whiteshill, Stroud, where he would later farm.

In June 1940 Lewis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The citation, published in The London Gazette, read:

Pilot Officer Lewis has, by a combination: of great personal courage, determination and skill in flying, shot down five enemy aircraft, single-handed, in one day. Francis Beamish has destroyed in all a total of seven enemy aircraft, and by his example has been an inspiration to his squadron.

On 18-08-1940 Lewis probably destroyed a Bf 110 and on the 31st a Bf 109. Lewis then joined No. 249 Squadron (Gold Coast) under command of Squadron Leader John Grandy (Marvellous in the Air) on 15-09-1940. Sir John Grandy himself died on 02-01-2004, at the age of 90.

On the same day Albert shot down a He 111 and on the 18th a Bf 109 (his twelfth confirmed enemy aircraft). On 27 September he claimed six kills (three Bf 109s, two Bf 110s and a Ju 88), two probables and one damaged. While on a patrol on 28 September he was shot down and he baled out of his Hurricane over Faversham and was taken to Faversham Cottage Hospital, blind for two weeks, and with shrapnel in his legs with severe burns on the face, throat, hands and legs.

Lewis returned to the squadron in December 1940, having been promoted flight lieutenant on 29-11-1940. He was flying by 17-01-1941, and became “A” Flight Commander, and was awarded a Bar to his DFC. The published citation read:

One day in September, 1940, this officer destroyed six enemy aircraft; this makes a total of eighteen destroyed by him. His courage and keenness are outstanding.

Lewis volunteered for overseas service and was posted to No. 261 Squadron in January 1942. Via Sierra Leone he went to Trincomalee in China Bay, Ceylon to take command of No. 261 Squadron.

On return to Britain he was made Chief Flying instructor at Tealing in Scotland and then went to No. 10 Group HQ at Box in Wiltshire in 1944–45. He left the Royal Air Force in 1946, having been an acting squadron leader since 22-04-1943. His final tally was 18 kills.

After the war Lewis went to the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. In 1947 he returned to South Africa and in 1951 joined the Tobacco Research Board in Southern Rhodesia. In 1953 he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (Mormons) and during 1953–55 he studied in the United States, but returned to farm in in Whiteshill, Stroud, England in 1957.

Death and burial ground of Lewis, Albert Gerald.

Lewis, Albert Gerald passed away on 14-12-1982 (aged 64) in Whiteshill, Stroud, England and is cremated..

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