Brighton area RAF veteran recalls the Battle of Britain

Later he would go on to join the RAF and be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. George, who will be 98 this September lives in Saltdean near Brighton. In 1940, aged 17, George lived in Whitstable in Kent. He responded to the radio broadcasts asking all males over the age of 17 who weren’t due for call up to join the LDV. The LDV (Local Defence Volunteers) later became the Home Guard much beloved from the TV series Dad’s Army. As part of the LDV, George received just an arm band and didn’t receive arms or a uniform until much later when the LDV was rebranded as the Home Guard. The Home Guard then also received training with the army. His role was to look out for German parachutes and crashed aircraft and to guard buildings including the telephone exchange and the gas works, as well important points across the coast. When asked what he remembers of the Battle of Britain George said, “I was in Whitstable on the North Kent Coast and we saw quite a bit of dog fighting over us in the Kent skies. It went on for months until the German Luftwaffe lost a huge number of planes and the air battle ended.” At the age of 18 George joined the RAF and in December 1943 was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This medal is awarded for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. George has been involved with the RAF Benevolent Fund for many years and helped to fundraise for the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park and attended the opening ceremony with Her Majesty the Queen. George says: “I have been invited to Biggin Hill for a veterans event in September celebrating The Battle of Britain which I am really looking forward to, but with the pandemic restrictions who knows if it will take place or if will be safe for me to visit.” George Dunn is supported by The Taxi Charity For Military Veterans who arrange trips to the continent for veterans to honour and remember those who didn’t return. The Charity will be sending out specially designed Battle of Britain cards to WWII veterans and charity supporters, featuring the V for Victory from the Operational Alphabet created for the Battle of Britain in 1940. www.taxicharity.org. See also: Sussex visitor attraction set to expand