Squadron Leader Eric Jack Kennedy MEGAW (28049)
8 Anti Aircraft Cooperation Unit, Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 11th November 1910
Date of death: 26th February 1941

Killed on active service aged 30
Buried at Middlezoy (Holy Cross) Churchyard in Somerset
He was born at Brighton on the 11th of November 1910 the son of John George Kennedy Megaw, poultry farmer, and his second wife, Martha Marie Hedwig (nee Maase) of Wood House, Billingshurst in Sussex.

He was educated at the Red House, Haslemere and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1924 to July 1927.

He was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force as a probationary Pilot Officer on the 13th of April 1929 and was posted to No 3 Training School at Grantham on the 27th of April 1929. He was confirmed in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 13th of April 1930 and served on the active list for five years during which time he served with an Army Cooperation Squadron and served for three years with similar units in India. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 13th of October 1930 and transferred to the Reserve of Air Officers on the 13th of April 1934. In 1935 he was graded as a Certified Radio Operator by the Post Office and by 1936 he was working for Birkett Air Services based at Heston aerodrome as one of three pilots involved in flying post and air freight throughout the UK and Europe. He was married in late 1936 to Rosemary (nee Stovin-Bradford), of Cherry Cottage, Park Avenue, Chorleywood in Hertfordshire. He was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant in the Reserve on the 1st of April 1937 with seniority from the 1st of April 1936. He was mobilised for service on the outbreak of war and was posted to Liverpool.

He was serving at Perth when he was attached to 8 Anti Aircraft Cooperation Unit, based at RAF Filton on the 1st of July 1940. The unit moved to RAF Weston Zoyland on the 6th of August 1940 and, on the 30th of August 1940, the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Oakley was taken to the RAF Hospital Locking and Eric Megaw assumed command. On the 24th of September 1940 he flew to the airfield at Old Sarum to inspect it prior to the squadron moving there. Four days later he received orders to move to Old Sarum and on the 4th of October 1940 an advance party left for thier new base with the move being completed two days later. They moved once more on the 10th of November 1940 to RAF Pegram Moors, some two miles to the south east of Cardiff city centre. Eric Megaw was billeted at a house in Pen-Y-Lan Terrace, Cardiff, a short distance from the airfield. He was promoted to Squadron Leader

At 7.47pm on the 26th of February 1941 the sirens sounded over Cardiff to warn of an approaching raid by German bombers. At around 8pm flares were seen falling and at 8.08pm the first bombs followed. Large numbers of incendiaries were also dropped which fell mainly on the east of the city causing large fires to break out. During the raid Eric Megaw left his house to attempt to extinguish incendiaries which had landed nearby. While he was doing this, he was hit by a high explosive bomb fragment and killed. The last bombs fell at 9.50pm and the all clear was sounded at 10pm. His body was identified by Flight Lieutenant W.H. Bratt, Adjutant to the unit. Flying Officer Sales assumed command of the unit following his death.

His wife received the following letter dated the 3rd of March 1941: - "Madam, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that your husband, Squadron Leader Eric Jack Megaw, Royal Air Force lost his life as a result of enemy action on 26th February 1941. The Air Council desire me to convey their profound sympathy."

His funeral was held on the 1st of March 1941 with Flying Officer Sales, Flight Sergeant Juffs and Leading Aircraftsman Harrod in attendance on behalf of his unit.



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