Pilot Officer JAG Chomley

Against Unfavourable Odds

Pilot Officer John Alison George Chomley had interesting South African connections. His Australian born father served with the Victorian Mounted Rifles during the Boer War and was living in Durban when he married Anne Kime Mansfield in 1913. JAG Chomley, born in Rhodesia in 1920 and Michaelhouse educated, entered RAF Cranwell College as an eighteen-year-old Dominion nomination in early 1939 but College graduations were impossible when war broke out. Chomley joined the RAFVR, commissioned in June 1940 and just 20 when he joined No 257 Squadron at RAF Northolt in July where Flight Lt WS Bowyer was a flight commander. Pilot Officer Chomley lost his life on August 12th when he was shot down off Portsmouth.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Flying Officer Spencer Ritchie “Teddy” Peacock-Edwards also commissioned in May 1938 and served in France before volunteering for Fighter Command, was several years ahead of John Chomley but behind Chater at Michaelhouse. Posted to No 615 Squadron on September 4th he moved to 253 Squadron at Kenley on the 15th unaware the Sunday headline “Is Hitler Hesitating” was redundant as radar detection of a massive Luftwaffe build up over Pas de Calais had allowed RAF fighters to secure undetected positions above the approaching bombers. A vital advantage on a day regarded as the “Battle of Britain’s” turning point that in tandem with Bomber Command’s barge destruction, forced Hitler to abandon his invasion plans a few days later.

The Dreaded Telegram

Cyril and Faith Collier received a similar telegram in Maseru advising 21-year-old son Sidney, a Michaelhouse contemporary of JAG Chomley who lost his life during the “Battle of Britain”, had been posted “missing”. The two families, unaware four No 59 Squadron Blenheim’s had been down in quick succession off the Dutch Coast,ten aircrew including their sons were killed and two survivors became “POW’s”.