Hammer Blow by
David Pritchard.
Six signature edition - Notes on Robert
Doe
Robert Francis Thomas Doe - 41908 Pilot British 234 and 238 Squadrons
Born on March 10 1920 at Reigate, Surrey, Doe started
work as an office boy at the News of the World. In March 1938 he joined the
RAFVR and began training at 5 E&RFTS Hanworth,
soloing on June 4.
Doe applied for a short service commission, was successful and
joined the RAF in January 1939. He did his elementary flying training at 15
E&RFTS, Redhill and went on to 6 FTS, Little Rissington, after which he joined 234 Squadron, then reforming
at Leconfield, on November 6 1939.
Doe was still with 234 at the start of the Battle of Britain. On August 15 1940 he claimed a Bf 110 destroyed and
shared another, on the 16th he destroyed a Bf 109 and possibly a Do 18, on the
18th he shot down a Bf 109 and damaged another, on 21st he shared a Ju 88 and on the 26th destroyed another Bf 109.
On September 4 Doe claimed three Bf 109s destroyed, on the 5th shot
down another, on the 6th destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged three Do 17s and on the
7th he destroyed a He 111. Doe was posted to 238 Squadron at Middle Wallop on
September 27. He claimed a He 111 destroyed on the 30th, a Bf 109 on October 1
and a Ju 88 on the 7th. He was awarded the DFC
(22.10.40) and a Bar (26.11.40).
He was shot down on October 10 over Warmwell
and baled out, wounded in the shoulder and leg, and after landing at Brownsea Island, he was
admitted to Poole Hospital. His
Hurricane, P 3984, crashed near Corfe Castle Viaduct.
Doe rejoined 238 at the end of December.
On January 3
1941 he was up at night when the oil in the cooler froze. Doe headed
for Warmwell. At 6000 feet his engine stopped and he
glided down to make a rapid landing on the snow-covered airfield. His harness
broke and Doe was thrown forward, breaking his arm and smashing his face
against the reflector sight. He went eventually to Park Prewitt Hospital and into the
care of Harold Gillies, a distinguished plastic
surgeon from New Zealand. After
twenty-two operations Doe went to 66 Squadron at Perranporth
on May 15 1941, as a Flight
Commander, but moved to 130 Squadron at Portreath on
August 18.
With his tour completed, Doe was instructed posted to 57 OUT,
Hawarden on October 22
1941, as an instructor. On June 9 1943 he went to the Fighter’s Leaders School, at Milfield and in July to 118 Squadron at Coltishall,
as a Supernumerary. From August to October 1983 Doe was with 613 Squadron, was
then posted to Burma and in
December 1943 was given the job of forming 10 (IAF) Squadron. He commanded the
Squadron throughout the Burma campaign and
was awarded the Indian DSO (2.10.45) one of the only two to be so honored. After leaving 10 Squadron in April 1945, Doe went
to the Army Staff College, Quetta and in August
joined the planning staff in Delhi. He returned
to the UK in September
1946. He held a number of staff appointments and commands before his retirement
on April 1st 1946 as a Wing
Commander.
Comments on this page should be emailed to Alan @ FDLC.co.uk
Last update 12th
June 2006
Back to homepage.
Back to Hammer Blow
six