Roland Anthony Lee Knight, DFC (1917 – 27 September 1941) was a fighter pilot and flying ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, credited with six "kills".[2][3][4]
Roland Anthony Lee Knight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Tony |
| Born | 1917 Fareham, England |
| Died | 27 September 1941 (aged 24) Dunkirk, France |
| Buried | Dunkirk Town Cemetery[1] |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1941 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Service number | 37772 |
| Commands | No. 403 Squadron (1941) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Early life
editKnight was born in 1917 in Fareham and educated at Bedford Modern School.[5][6]
RAF career
editKnight joined the Royal Air Force in 1936,[7] and was commissioned as pilot officer on 17 February 1937.[8] He was promoted to flying officer on 17 November 1938 and to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1940.[9]
Knight was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1941 with the following citation: {{quote|This officer has shown great personal courage and sound leadership in sweeps over enemy territory. By his dash and consistent courage Flight Lieutenant Knight has set an example to his flight. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged others.[10]
On 21 August 1941 he was promoted to squadron leader and made Commanding Officer of the newly formed No. 403 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch.[11] Shortly thereafter he was shot down on active service over Dunkirk, France on 27 September 1941.[12]
Knight's combat record reads: six kills, three probable kills, three damaged and one destroyed on the ground.[2]
References
edit- ^ Reading Room Manchester. "CWGC – Casualty Details". cwgc.org. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (15 July 2008). Aces High. ISBN 9781898697008. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Tony Lee-Knight". acesofww2.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Battle of Britain London Monument – F/Lt. R A L Knight". bbm.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ ancestry.co.uk
- ^ "Roll of Honour – Bedfordshire – Bedford Modern School – World War 2". roll-of-honour.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ The London Gazette, 5 May 1936, Issue 34281, p. 2899
- ^ The London Gazette, 23 February 1937, Issue 34374, p. 1260
- ^ The London Gazette, 29 October 1940, Issue 34982, p. 6255
- ^ The London Gazette, 5 August 1941, Issue 35238, p. 4516
- ^ "TracesOfWar.com – KNIGHT, Roland Anthony Lee". TracesOfWar.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Sq Ldr Roland Anthony Lee Knight ( – 1941) – Find A Grave Photos". findagrave.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.