PAIN, John Francis
| Service Number: | 43291 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 October 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 73 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Scotland, 25 June 1921 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Natural Causes, 12 September 1980, aged 59 years, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 30 Aug 1939: | Embarked Royal Air Force , 43291, Aboard SS Orama | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Royal Air Force , 43291, Aircrew Training Units | |
| 29 Jul 1940: | Involvement Royal Air Force , Pilot Officer, 43291, No. 32 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Battle of Britain | |
| 18 Aug 1940: | Wounded Royal Air Force , Pilot Officer, 43291, No. 32 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Shot down in Hurricane P3147 over Biggin Hill | |
| 26 Nov 1940: | Transferred Royal Air Force , Pilot Officer, No. 249 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 29 Jan 1941: | Involvement Royal Air Force , Pilot Officer, 43291, No. 261 Squadron (RAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre, Flew in the Battle for Malta; Jan - May 1941flying in from HMS Furious | |
| 3 Jul 1942: | Involvement Royal Air Force , Pilot Officer, 43291, No. 73 Squadron (RAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre | |
| 25 Mar 1944: | Discharged Royal Air Force , Pilot Officer, 43291 | |
| Date unknown: | Enlisted | |
| Date unknown: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
John Francis PAIN - Battle of Britain pilot - (1921-1980)
John Francis Pain was born in Scotland where his Australian parents were medical students. He returned with them to Australia as a child where his mother remarried, her husband was Sir Alan Mansfield, Governor of Queensland.
Accepted as a candidate for an RAF short service commission, Pain sailed for England on 30th August 1939 in the SS Orama. He arrived at 9 EFTS Ansty on 30th October for his initial flying training. With the course completed, Pain joined 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill from 7 OTU on 29th July 1940.
He claimed a Bf109 probably destroyed and a Ju88 damaged on 15th August, destroyed a Ju88 and probably another on the 16th and on the 18th he destroyed a Do17 and probably another. On this day, in an engagement over Biggin Hill, Pain was shot down in flames by Bf109's in Hurricane P3147. He baled out, wounded, landed near Horsmonden and was admitted to hospital. He did not return to his squadron until 31st October.
Pain was posted to 249 Squadron at North Weald on 26th November but on 18th December he left and soon after embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Furious. He flew off to Takoradi and then flew a Hurricane along the ferry route to Egypt in stages, arriving at Abu Sueir on 16th January 1941. Pain flew a Hurricane to Malta on 29th January and joined 261 Squadron at Ta Kali.
On 1st February he claimed a Ju88 destroyed, on the 4th probably another, on the 12th a probable Me109 and a Ju88 damaged, on the 25th a Bf110 damaged, on the 26th a Do215 probably destroyed and a Bf109 damaged, on 5th March a Bf110 probably destroyed and a Do215 shared, on 18th March a CR42 destroyed and probably another, on 20th April another CR42 destroyed and probably a second and at night on 15th May a He111 destroyed.
In early May 1941 Pain returned to the Middle East and was posted to ADU Takoradi. He was serving with 73 Squadron in the Western Desert in 1942. On 3rd July he destroyed a Bf109, probably a Ju87 and damaged another, and on the 10th he damaged a CR42.
After a short spell with 123 Squadron in Persia, Pain returned to England, commanded 26 AACU in 1943 and later in the year was at 20 MU.
In late March 1944 Pain resigned his commission and returned to Australia. He changed his name to Brooker-Pain in 1972.
He died on 12th September 1980.
Battle of Britain London Monument
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