Flight Lieutenant Desmond Percy WADE (40962)
33 Squadron Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 6th June 1916
Date of death: 23rd May 1942

Killed in action aged 25
Commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 247
He was born at Wembley on the 6th of June 1916, the son of Edward Bertram Wade, engineer on the Nigerian Railways, and Marjorie Ilma (nee Hayes) of Broadstairs, St Stephen's, Canterbury, and of 7, Green Avenue, Mill Hill, London.

He was educated at Broadstairs, and at the King's School Canterbury from September 1930 to July 1934 where he was a dayboy.

On the 9th of July 1938 he was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force and was confirmed in his rank on the 16th of May 1939. He was was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of September 1940 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 3rd of September 1941.

He was posted to 33 Squadron operating the Hawker Hurricane fighter who, from the 3rd of February 1942, were based at Gambut in Libya. He was known in the squadron by the nick name of "Buster".

On the 23rd of May 1942 33 Squadron was detailed to provide fighter escort protection to a convoy as it sailed into and out of Tobruk. Desmond Wade took off in Hurricane Mk IIb Z5654 with three other aircraft from the squadron for their fourth sortie of the day to provide top cover to the escort. Over the sea they became engaged with a number of Messerschmitt 109s from 4/JG27 and during this engagement Sergeant La Flamme's aircraft was damaged while Desmond Wade's Hurricane was shot down and was seen diving towards the sea. It ditched in the sea at 9.40am ten kilometres to the north east of Ras-el-Tin in Libya. He had been shot down by Oberstleutnant Gustav Rödel; it was his fortieth victory of an eventual ninety eight. Rödel stated in his post combat report that he had seen Desmond Wade swimming away from the sinking aircraft. The crash of the aircraft was confirmed by the Royal Navy.

His father received the following telegram: -

“Regret to inform you that your son Flight Lieutenant Desmond Percy Wade is reported missing but believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 23/5/42. Any further information received will be communicated to you. Letter confirming this telegram follows.”

The Cantuarian wrote:-

"Quiet and unassuming he will be remembered as an aircraft enthusiast, and the keenness of his earlier years was amply borne out in his career in the R.A.F."
Day Boy

Back