Pilot Officer Raymond Mayhew Lewin
GC (14 January 1915 – 21 November 1941) of the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was (whilst a
Sergeant) awarded the
George Cross for the courage he showed in rescuing his co-pilot from their burning plane on 3 November 1940 in
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
.
Biography
He was born on 14 January 1915, in
Kettering
Kettering is a market and industrial town in North Northamptonshire, England. It is located north of London and north-east of Northampton, west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) of ...
and was educated at
Kimbolton School
Kimbolton School is a British HMC
co-educational independent day and boarding school in the rural village of Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, England.
There are 1000 students, aged 4 to 18. Boarding and flexi-boarding is available to a limited ...
. He joined the RAFVR in the spring of 1936
On 15 March 1941 he was
commissioned as a Pilot Officer (with seniority backdated to 27 January 1941). He was
killed in action on 21 November 1941, whilst flying with
No. 109 Squadron, and is buried in his home town of Kettering.
George Cross citation
The citation was published in the ''
London Gazette'' of 7 March 1941 (dated 11 March):
Medals
Pilot Officer Lewin's citation, photographs, medals and a copy of his
George Cross medal can be viewed at (1101) Kettering Air Cadets (
Kettering
Kettering is a market and industrial town in North Northamptonshire, England. It is located north of London and north-east of Northampton, west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) of ...
, England) by appointment on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
The squadron also parades at his graveside on Remembrance Day each year as a mark of respect for one of 1101 squadron's ex members.
See also
*
List of George Cross recipients
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewin, Raymond Mayhew
1915 births
1941 deaths
People from Kettering
Royal Air Force officers
People educated at St Edward's School, Oxford
British recipients of the George Cross
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II
Military personnel from Northamptonshire