Sub-Lieutenant (A) (Pilot)
BLAKE, ARTHUR GILES

Died 29/10/1940
Aged 23
HMS Daedalus (Fleet Air Arm) Royal Navy
attd. 19 Sqdn. Royal Air Force

Son of John Henry Laws Blake and Mary Jayne Blake.

Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
and Cemetery Burial listing

=====
Suggested edit:
Arthur Giles BLAKE, Sub-Lieutenant (Pilot), Royal Navy attached to 19 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Killed in Chelmsford

Arthur Giles Blake was born in Northumberland in 1917, one of eight known children of John Henry Laws Blake and Mary Jane Blake (nee Carson). Arthur’s father was at one time a commercial traveller for an asbestos company.

He served as a Sub Lieutenant (Pilot) with the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy.

In June 1940 Arthur was serving at HMS Daedalus in Hampshire when he was transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal Air Force (RAF), one of 58 naval pilots loaned to the RAF during the Battle of Britain. He was initially posted to 7 Operational Training Unit to learn how to fly the Spitfire and subsequently was drafted to 19 Squadron, first at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, where he was given the nickname ‘Admiral’. Later he served from Duxford’s satellite airfield at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire. He was credited with shooting down at least five German aircraft, including an He111 on September 9, 1940, a Bf109 and a share of an He111 on September 15, 1940 and two Bf109s on September 17, 1940.

Arthur was killed on October 29, 1940 while still serving with 19 Squadron when his Spitfire, number P7423 QV-Y was attacked by a stray German Bf 109 aircraft while on routine patrol over south London. His crippled aircraft travelled some twenty miles northwards before crashing in flames in Chelmsford. The aircraft came down in New London Road at 5:12 p.m., partially demolishing Oak Lodge (today no. 216), before ending up in the roadway.

The 23 year-old was one of 58 naval pilots on loan to the RAF New London Road was blocked by the wreckage for a couple of hours but was re-opened at 7:35 p.m. His remains were taken to St. John's Hospital, Chelmsford and he was subsequently buried at St. Mary's Church in Langley near Slough, Berkshire (row 13, grave 3).
Contributor: John Owen (47598631) •

Sub-Lieutenant (A) (Pilot)
BLAKE, ARTHUR GILES

Died 29/10/1940
Aged 23
HMS Daedalus (Fleet Air Arm) Royal Navy
attd. 19 Sqdn. Royal Air Force

Son of John Henry Laws Blake and Mary Jayne Blake.

Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
and Cemetery Burial listing

=====
Suggested edit:
Arthur Giles BLAKE, Sub-Lieutenant (Pilot), Royal Navy attached to 19 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Killed in Chelmsford

Arthur Giles Blake was born in Northumberland in 1917, one of eight known children of John Henry Laws Blake and Mary Jane Blake (nee Carson). Arthur’s father was at one time a commercial traveller for an asbestos company.

He served as a Sub Lieutenant (Pilot) with the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy.

In June 1940 Arthur was serving at HMS Daedalus in Hampshire when he was transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal Air Force (RAF), one of 58 naval pilots loaned to the RAF during the Battle of Britain. He was initially posted to 7 Operational Training Unit to learn how to fly the Spitfire and subsequently was drafted to 19 Squadron, first at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, where he was given the nickname ‘Admiral’. Later he served from Duxford’s satellite airfield at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire. He was credited with shooting down at least five German aircraft, including an He111 on September 9, 1940, a Bf109 and a share of an He111 on September 15, 1940 and two Bf109s on September 17, 1940.

Arthur was killed on October 29, 1940 while still serving with 19 Squadron when his Spitfire, number P7423 QV-Y was attacked by a stray German Bf 109 aircraft while on routine patrol over south London. His crippled aircraft travelled some twenty miles northwards before crashing in flames in Chelmsford. The aircraft came down in New London Road at 5:12 p.m., partially demolishing Oak Lodge (today no. 216), before ending up in the roadway.

The 23 year-old was one of 58 naval pilots on loan to the RAF New London Road was blocked by the wreckage for a couple of hours but was re-opened at 7:35 p.m. His remains were taken to St. John's Hospital, Chelmsford and he was subsequently buried at St. Mary's Church in Langley near Slough, Berkshire (row 13, grave 3).
Contributor: John Owen (47598631) •