Fletcher,+JL

Squadron Leader (Pilot), 76 Sqdn. Royal Air Force. Service No: 44065. Age: 29. Died 2nd March 1943. Awards: D F M, Mentioned in Despatches. Son of James Frederick and Dora Ethel Fletcher; husband of Peggy Jean Fletcher, of Upper Beeding, Sussex. SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY, Plot II. Row G. Grave 25.
 * John Lawrence Fletcher**

Gazette Issue 34903 published on the 23 July 1940. Page 29 of 76 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 JULY, 1940 4531 Air Ministry. July 1940. ROYAL AIR FORCE. GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH. The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of hostilities as Pilot Officers on probation: — Sergeants, 20th June 1940. (Seniority 25th Apr. 1940.) 564192 John Lawrence FLETCHER (44065).
 * London Gazette reports:**

Gazette Issue 35203 published on the 27 June 1941. Page 14 of 66 3682 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 JUNE, 1941 The undermentioned Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments and promoted to the war substantive rank of Flying Officer: — 20th June 1941. (Seniority 25th April 1941.) John Lawrence FLETCHER, D.F.M. (44065).

Gazette Issue 35606 published on the 23 June 1942. Page 4 of 44 2760 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 JUNE, 1942 Flying Officers to be Flight Lieutenants. (war subs.): — 20th June 1942. (Seniority. 25th April 1942.) J. L. FLETCHER, D.F.M. (44065).


 * Keighley News report:**

DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL

Sgt John L. Fletcher has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal and has received many congratulations from his friends at Cranswick.

Sgt Fletcher is the elder son of Mr and Mrs J.F. Fletcher, of Oakworth Road, Keighley. Only last month he was mentioned in despatches. An old boy of Keighley Grammar School, he has been in the R.A.F. for 10 years. After matriculating, he spent a short time at Keighley Technical College, where his father is a member of the staff, and then joined the Halton School of Technical Training for the R.A.F.

Less than a year ago Sgt Fletcher married a Shoreham girl, Miss Peggy Channell, who appeared in the George Formby film, “Trouble Brewing.” He met her while undergoing a navigation course in Sussex. At Shoreham Sgt Fletcher is well known as a squash player and for his ability as a pianist.

He lives with his wife at Sunnydene, Cranswick, and was visited at Easter by his parents, Mr and Mrs J.F. Fletcher, of Keighley. Mr Fletcher, senr, served in the Great War. Sgt Fletcher’s younger brother has just been called up and is now in the RAF.

Mrs Fletcher’s father was killed in the Great War.

Sgt and Mrs Fletcher are sharing a house with Sgt and Mrs Malcolm Lucas. Sgt Lucas is only 21 and has been four years in the RAF. He is a sergeant-observer, and is in Sgt Fletcher’s crew. Each time they go off on a night trip – and they’ve been on several – their wives wait up for them, doing anything to take their minds off the dangerous job before their husbands.

And when their husbands come home they know before they reach the door, because Mrs Fletcher recognises the rattle of her husband’s car.

Mrs Lucas, who is about 21, and like Mrs Fletcher, very pretty, was married in September a few days after the war broke out. She worked in a Scunthorpe cinema.

Mrs Fletcher did not know of her husband’s award of the Distinguished Flying Medal until the postman called. He said he had heard it announced on the wireless. It was news, too, to Mr and Mrs Fletcher senior, when they came to stay with their son and daughter-in-law for Easter.

Sgt Fletcher’s plane was No 13 when they took off for the Sylt raid. Fletcher dived to 1,000 feet to attack a hangar containing planes, dropped his bombs (these were released by Lucas), set fire to the plane and then flew round for an hour and a half to watch the developments. He then returned to the attack, diving lower this time and again bombed the place. Then they came home.