John Fraser Drummond

John Fraser Drummond, DFC (19 October 1918 – 10 October 1940) was a fighter pilot and flying ace who flew with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was killed after his aircraft collided with another during the Battle of Britain.

Background The younger of two siblings, he was born to middle-class parents, William and Nellie, in Liverpool on 19 October 1918. From the age of eleven he attended boarding schools (Deytheur Grammar School in Llansantffraid, Powys, then Wellington School, Somerset).

A capable student, he passed his school certificates in a wide range of subjects and left with the senior prize for divinity.

After a short spell working at a timber merchant with his father, he applied to join the RAF. In January 1939 he was assigned to 46 Squadron based at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire.

On 21 October 1939 the squadron attacked a formation of Heinkel 115s – an action which prompted a visit from the king a fortnight later.

On 2 June he was patrolling in Hurricane W2543 over Narvik. He saw two Junkers Ju 87s attacking a destroyer over Ofotfjord. He shot down one of them, watching it force-land and burst into flames.

Citation from the London Gazette:

For the next ten weeks he flew convoy and defensive patrols and trained Polish and Czech pilots to fly Spitfires at RAF Hawarden.

Drummond first saw action on 9 September, defending an attack on Biggin Hill. On 11 September Drummond attacked a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that was attacking a Hurricane, following it until he ran out of ammunition. He saw two more Bf 109s about to attack him, but managed to half-roll and return to base safely.

Throughout September Drummond and 92 Squadron were involved in sporadic sorties to defend south eastern England. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe began The Blitz on major cities. On 21 September a bomb smashed into a Drummond family home in Liverpool, killing John's grandmother and aunt while they slept.

On the morning of 23 September, flying Spitfire QJ-T (X4422), Drummond attacked a Bf 109 attacking another Spitfire. Feldwebel Kuepper of 8./Jagdgeschwader 26 tried to escape but Drummond pressed home his attack, firing short bursts until Kuepper was forced down in a pond near Grain Fort on the Isle of Grain and captured unhurt.

Drummond and Pilot Officer Bill Williams both attempted beam attacks from either flank. They missed and continued turning towards each other, and their Spitfires collided. Drummond baled out but was too low for his parachute to open effectively. Still alive after hitting the ground, a priest was able to administer the last rites before Drummond died in his arms.

Funeral and memorials Drummond's funeral took place at St Michael's church, Blundellsands, Liverpool, on 15 October 1940, four days before his 22nd birthday. He is buried in Thornton Garden of Rest.

John Drummond is commemorated on the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne, and the Battle of Britain Monument in London. His name is on two memorials in his home district of Crosby. One is inside St Michael's church where his funeral was held, the other in Alexandra Park.

He is listed in the book of remembrance at St Clement Danes, the RAF church in London. He is also recorded in the book of remembrance, the casualties list and on the roll of honour in St Georges Chapel at Biggin Hill. There is also a plaque at Wellington School commemorating John Drummond and another old boy who flew in the Battle of Britain, Edward Graham.

First Light Geoffrey Wellum's best-selling memoir, First Light, mentions Drummond. In 2010 it was dramatised for TV by the BBC, with Alex Waldmann playing John Fraser Drummond.

Combat Record 1940

(Sources for all combat record: Aces High – A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII and Aces High Volume 2 and 92 Squadron Operations Record Book)