Tatnall, Reginald Frederick, born in October 1915 in Greenwich, United Kingdom 
the son of William Walter Tatnell (1876-1948) and Jessie Margaret Elizabeth, born Cowne 1880-1962).
His father worked in the butchery trade. Reginald Frederick Tatnell joined the RAFVR, “Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve”
about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot, with his friend Sergeant Reginald Robert Stretch.
Reginald Stretch was a British Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) airman who served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with the 235 Squadron (“We Strike Them to the Ground”) 
under command of Squadron Leader Ralph Ian George MacDougall, 
during World War II. MacDougall was born in Southampton on 01-06-1920, and joined the RAFVR in May 1939. From 1942 to 1944 MacDougall was Station Commander at Hal Far, Malta and Ramleh, Haifa and Ramat David, all in Palestine. He returned to the UK in 1945 and was Station Commander at RAF Andover until 1947, when he went on to the Reserve. MacDougall returned to full-time service in 1948, in the Secretarial Branch, and finally retired on 9th August 1966 as a Flight Lieutenant, retaining the rank of Wing Commander. He passes away on 22-07-1994, age 82, in Marlborough.
Sergeant Reginald Robert Stretch was born on 01-06-1920, he survived the war and passed away at the age of 84 in June 2004.
Called up on 1st September, Tatnell completed his elementary training at 10 EFTS Yatesbury ” No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School.” 
He moved on to 3 FTS South Cerney for No. 34 Course, which ran from 28th April to 3rd August 1940.
With his training completed, Tatnell probably went on No. 4 Blenheim course at No. 1 (C) OTU Silloth, 
from 12th August to 9th September and he joined 235 Squadron (Blenheims) 
again under command of Squadron Leader Ralph Ian George MacDougall, at Bircham Newton on 20-09-1940.
Death and burial ground of Tatnell, Reginald Frederick.
He flew his first operational sortie on the 26th. Tatnell was posted with his flight to RAF Aldergrove on 19th November where it combined with a flight of 236 Squadron 
to reform 272 Squadron 
on the 21st.
Tatnell was killed on 18-05-1941 as a Sergeant with 272 Squadron when Beaufighter Ic T3302 
dived into the ground after a night take-off from Chivenor. He was 25 and is buried in St Augustine’s churchyard, Heanton Punchardon, Devon. 37 Heanton Hill, Heanton Punchardon, Braunton, Barnstaple, EX31 4DQ.
Leave a Reply