Preece Family History and One Name Study

The website dedicated to the research of Preece individuals and families worldwide

HOME              BACKGROUND              LOCATIONS              RECORDS              SOURCES              LINKS              MESSAGE BOARD             CONTACT ME

Military Records - Air Force 

This section contains details of those found to be serving in Air Forces across the years, up to and including the World War 2 period. I will aim to include both service details and home/family details where they can be identified. More recent personnel will be excluded. Many will not be pilots or aircrew, but the aim is to cover anyone in the Air Force.


This is very much a "work-in-progress". I have more details to add for these records here, and more records to find. I will add personal details such as birth/marriage from my own files as I locate them. Other sections will be developed for Army and Navy in due course.


First Name Enrolled on Service Number Rank Service joined Demobilised on Born Birthplace Further details
A F 25-Sep-18 19374 Member (General Clerk) Women's Royal Air Force 23-Sep-19 1900    
Albert 19-Jun-19 331885   Royal Air Force   16-May-01 Birmingham, Warwickshire  
Albert Edward 16-Jan-19 326485 Aero Engine Fitter Royal Air Force   08-Apr-02 Deptford, Kent  
Albert John Victor 18-Sep-17 150076   Royal Flying Corp   abt 1887    
Albert Thomas 23-May-17 229557 Aircraftsman Royal Naval Air Service   22 Mar 1880 Monmouth  
Alfred Austin Horwood 15-Jan-16 210704 Air Mechanic Royal Naval Air Service   23 Aug 1896 Camberwell, London  
Alice May 05-Aug-18 15414 M T Driver (Probation) Women's Royal Air Force   1896    
Archibald George 06-Jun-17 230272   Royal Naval Air Service   9 Oct 1897 Sutton, Nr. Hereford  
Arthur Samuel 05-Apr-17 69909   Royal Flying Corp   1897    
Benjamin 10-Aug-16 219028 Air Mechanic Royal Naval Air Service   11 Jun 1886 Bishops Frome, Nr Hereford  
Brazel Gordon 08-Feb-18 128043   Royal Flying Corp   abt 1900    
Cecil Arthur 15-Feb-17 59747   Royal Flying Corp   8 Dec 1898 Ledbury, Herefordshire  
Charles James   J/18833 Flying Officer (Pilot) Royal Canadian Air Force N/A     Killed in UK on 23 Nov 44 flying Mosquito II DD736 1692 BSTU Flt
Chris Redvers   552603 Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force   1920   Son of Charles William and Annie Matilda Preece, of Oldbury, Worcestershire. Missing believed killed; aircraft failed to return from operational flight over Brest, France, on board Wellington W5380 12 Squadron, 24 July 1941
Clement Howell 15-Apr-18 137065 Pilot Royal Air Force   29-Mar-00 Tufnell Park, London
Colin Francis 08-May-18 165021 Air Mechanic Royal Air Force   10-Nov-00 Cardiff, Glamorgan
Craven John 17-Feb-15 46054 Fitter Royal Flying Corp   abt 1896 Salford, Lancashire  
E L     Sergeant Royal Air Force      
Edwin 07-Aug-16 42580 Air Mechanic Royal Flying Corp   1889  
Edwin George 04-Sep-14 321018   Royal Flying Corp   1893 S. Peters, Leicester  
Elizabeth Ellen 27-Apr-18 1844 C.S.L. Women's Royal Air Force 19-Sep-19 1895    
F L     Sergeant Royal Air Force        
Fred 30-May-17 143458   Royal Air Force   1885    
Fred 05-Jan-18 158674   Royal Flying Corp   22-Nov-01 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire  
Frederick Arnold 04-Jun-18 191543 Air Mechanic Royal Air Force   29 Jul 1895 Busbey, Whampton  
G E   1300732 Sergeant Royal Air Force        
George Harry 05-Dec-14 202480 Sgt Mech Rigger (Aero) Royal Air Force   9 Nov 1877 Brompton, London  
George Vallender 01-Feb-18 123911   Royal Flying Corp   1890    
Gilbert Alan George 08-Feb-18 124659 Fitter AE Royal Flying Corp   7 Nov 1899    
Gladys 06-May-18 1425 Member (Fitter) Women's Royal Air Force 14-Mar-19 1899    
Gordon Lewis   J/94374 Pilot Officer (Navigator) Royal Canadian Air Force N/A 1925   Son of Thomas Stanley and Ethel Margaret Preece of Vancouver, Canada. Died on board Lancaster I LL832 101 Sqdn 31 Mar 1944 - took off from Ludford Magna, hit by flak and crashed just outside Coblenz, Germany.
H S   257464 Acting Flight Lieutenant Royal Air Force        
Harry Jelf 06-Jun-18 192710   5 Group, RAF  
Stourbridge, Worcestershire  
Hector Macdonald 08-Mar-18 140105   Royal Flying Corp   1899 Cinderford, Gloucestershire  
Henry 19-May-17 81846   Royal Flying Corp   1894    
J B 30-Apr-18 772 Member (Clerk) Women's Royal Air Force 18-Jun-19 1896    
J H   551308 Leading Aircraftman Royal Air Force        
J T   359054 Warrant Officer Royal Air Force        
James 27-Mar-16 21993   Royal Flying Corp   1887 Ellesmere, Shropshire  
James 15-Feb-18 124899   Royal Flying Corp   1883    
James Harold   R/184114 Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Royal Canadian Air Force N/A 1924   Son of James Nathaniel and Rosina Preece, husband of Glenna E Preece of Ferris, Ontario, Canada. Killed  12 Dec 44 on board Halifax V LL541 1664 HCU
James Harold 25-Jan-15 45840   Royal Flying Corp   abt 1895    
Jesse 24-Jul-15 146013   Royal Flying Corp   1890    
Jesse 14-Dec-16 224957 Air Mechanic Royal Naval Air Service   10 Oct 1892 Abberley, Worcestershire  
Jesse Edmonds 14-May-18 176810   Royal Air Force   26 Sep 1899 Tuckhill, Shropshire  
John 12-Feb-17 59811 Air Mechanic Royal Flying Corp   abt 1899    
John 12-Jun-18 195411   Royal Air Force   7 Jun 1874 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire  
John Colin   631045 Leading Aircraftman Royal Air Force N/A 1922   Son of William Frederick and Alice Preece, of Harley, Shropshire. Served in 62 Squadron. Captured on 1942 Mar 20 at Java. Died in a POW camp at Palembang, Sumatra 24 Jun 1945
John Henry 16-Jan-17 54766   Royal Flying Corp   22 Dec 1875    
John Joseph 25-Sep-18 298355   Royal Air Force   23-Sep-01 Jullender, India  
John Thomas 16-Dec-24 359054 Driver Royal Air Force   14-Apr-05 Sutton Maddock, Shropshire  
John Verdon   R/251550 Leading Aircraftman Royal Canadian Air Force N/A 1918   Son of John Horace and Margaret Preece, of Toronto. Husband of Hazel I Preece, also of Toronto. No Squadron details yet held, died 8 Mar 1946.
L G     Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force        
L G     Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force        
Leonard John   1310537 Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve N/A/ 1914   Husband of Marie F Preece of Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire. Son of Arthur & Louise Preece. Died 04 Feb 43 on board Hudson III V9044 279 Sqdn
Leonard William 31-Jul-17 234571 Aircraftsman Royal Naval Air Service   16 Jul 1879 Bishopston, Gloucestershire  
Lilian Isabel 25-Oct-18 23642 Member (General Clerk) Women's Royal Air Force 09-Oct-19 1894    
Malcolm James 10-Apr-40 43292 Pilot Officer Royal Air Force       Son of Cleopatra Preece, and stepson of Harold Illingworth, Devonport, Tasmania. Missing, belived killed from enemy action on board Hampden X3004, 50 Squadron, 8 Dec 1940
Maude 20-Jun-18 11229 Sub Section Leader Women's Royal Air Force 02-Jan-20 1901    
Mervyn Stanley   1375153 Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve N/A 1920 Westminster, London Son of Mervyn Claude and Margaret. Wireless Operator. Killed - aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Nurnberg, Germany, flying in Wellington Z8844, 115 Squadron, 14 October 1941
N 19-Nov-17 7584 Member (Photographer) Women's Royal Air Force 17-Oct-19 1894    
O D   2075236 Leading Aircraftman Royal Air Force        
Percival Lewis 10-Jun-16 31377   Royal Flying Corp   1883    
Reginald Roderick   151813 Flying Officer Royal Air Force N/A 1923   Son of Mr & Mrs RRG Preece of Thornton Heath, Surrey. Died on board  Lancaster l NG244 Unit 626 Sqdn 22 Dec 44, having taken off from Wickenby, forced to turn back due to an engine failure, and crashed on approach.
Reginald Thomas 03-Jun-18 191026 Air Mechanic Royal Flying Corp   30-Nov-00 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire  
Robert John   1174086 Sergeant (Observer) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve N/A 1921   Son of Herbert and Daisy Preece of Bridgwater, Somerset. Buried at Wembdon. Died on board Lancaster I W4270 61 Sqdn - crashed 2256 18 Feb 1943 following an engine fire flying in the circuit at Bottesford airfield Leicestershire
S C J 1918 49553   Royal Flying Corp        
Sidney 17-Jun-19 331809 Fitter Royal Air Force   04-Mar-01 Greet, Birmingham  
Stephen Charles Joseph 10-Aug-14 403019 Air Mechanic Royal Flying Corp   abt 1896 Ross, Hereford  
Sydney Charles   637297 Corporal   N/A     POW on board SS Junyo Maru, being taken from Java to Sumatra - attacked and sunk by UK submarine HMS Tradewind 18 Sep 1944. Over 4,000 men died, including Sydney. 
Sydney Talbot 10-Nov-20 344099   Royal Air Force   26-Oct-02 Lye, Stourbridge, Staffordshire  
T J     Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force        
Thomas 11-Dec-17 185718   Royal Air Force   abt 1897    
Thomas Henry 15-Jul-16 218364 Air Mechanic Royal Naval Air Service   20 Feb 1883 Stapenhill, Derbyshire  
Thomas James   J/93896 Pilot Officer (Wireless Operator) Royal Canadian Air Force N/A     Son of Nathanial James and Rosina Preece, of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Died on board Lancaster II LL628 426 Sqdn over Germany - Took off 1625 20 Jan 1944 from Linton-on-Ouse. He is buried in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery
Tom Hilton 30-Jan-18 248683 Fitter AE Royal Naval Air Service   27 Jan 1899 Runcorn, Cheshire  
Trevor Meyrick 11-Jan-16 17842   Royal Flying Corp   abt 1897    
Vincent Charles 21-Aug-19 334420   Royal Air Force   22-Apr-01 Bullingham, Hereford  
W H     Pilot Officer Royal Air Force        
Wallace John   1234556 Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve N/A 1922   Husband of Eileen Beatrice Preece of Short Heath, Staffordshire. Son of Wallace John and Harriet Elizabeth Preece. Died on board Halifax II JN885 51 Sqdn In Germany - took off 2242 8 Oct 1943 from Snaith. Cause of loss not established.
Walter 26-Aug-14 146489   Royal Air Force   1885 Hereford  
William   1011196 Leading Aircraftman Royal Air Force N/A     No details of cause or place of death known - buried at Heath Hayes, Staffordshire 1 May 1942
William Jabez   1576840 Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force N/A 1923   Son of Jabez and Olive Mehalla Preece, of Staunton-on-Arrow, Herefordshire. Died on board Mosquito NF.XII HK135 256 Sqdn, North Sea, 30 Jun 1943