JONES, Don (#267)

Alan Pollock’s Rough Notes:

A work in progress – the fuller biographies will emerge in due course: please sign up to the Newsletter (bottom of the page) and we’ll let you know when we’ve done more justice in writing up our extraordinary signatories.

Warrant Officer Pilot Don JONES covers the development and use on No.6 Squadron of the Mk IV HURRICANES, the “tin openers” which gave the Sqn a new nickname – they tried to fire straight and level or in a slight dive with difficulty getting up to the recommended 240 mph. “Humph” was also involved in trials and tactics. The Hurricanes had quite high losses practising and perfecting the ideal anti tank profiles to suit the killing potential of the 40mm guns, particularly in the run up to and after El ALAMEIN.  24 October, 1942 was their most successful day, when 6 Squadron was credited with knocking out 16 tanks.  Also there was further success in March 1943 in supporting Le Clerc’s push by the FREE FRENCH.   Don also was involved, partly after the demanding tour on Hurricanes, in Ferry flying work in India.