Dales, Philip – Lost in action flying Spitfire

William Philip Dales (1919-1941)

Philip, as he was known, was born on 14th May 1919 in Little Ponton, near Grantham.

His father was a Gamekeeper and the family were living at Corby Birkholme when Philip began school.

In April 1924 Philip started his education at Corby Primary School and continued there until he was nine years of age.

He then spent an academic year at Ropsley Primary School and left in May 1930 having gained a scholarship for the Kings School in Grantham.

His first day at the Kings School as a Day Boy was on the 17th September 1930 and he left on the 5th March 1936 to work for Aveling Barford in Grantham.

In March 1940 that Philip decided to “Join Up”.

His chosen Service was the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after basic training he volunteered as Air Crew. Soon after his arrival at the Elementary Flying School at Hatfield on 25th July 1940 he was being instructed on Tiger Moths.  After just eight hours of dual instruction he was he was flying solo.

In January 1941 he received his Wings and Service Number 955028 became Sergeant William Philip Dales.

After Operational Training his postings included Manston in Kent, Acklington in Northumberland and Hornchurch in Essex.

Action for Philip in Spitfire V’s included Junkers Ju 88, Messerschmitt Bf 109’s over the English Channel, France and Belgium as well as damaging his own aircraft on landing. Ground targets included Signal boxes and German Troops.

On the 5th November 1941, Philips luck ran out when returning from a sortie over Belgium he was caught by the Focke-Wolfe Fw 190A of Adolf Glunz over Gravelines near Dunkirk, France.

Adolf Glunz was to become one of the Luftwaffe’s Ace Pilots with 71 victories.

Philip was his 7^th victim when the Spitfire crashed into the English Channel.

Philip has no known Grave

After the War was over his parents commissioned a Stained Glass Window in Ropsley Church.

As part of this Memorial Window is inscribed the following:- “To the glory of God and in memory of a beloved younger son William Philip Dales of Little Humby who did not return from an operational flight over Ostend 5th November 1941 aged 22

“Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.”

The window shows his dog looking adoringly at Philip so now we can give him his rightful name of Patch.

At the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey he is remembered on Panel 42 as just one of over 20,000 Aircrew who have no known grave.

A photograph of Philip stood for many years on the sideboard in the house of my Wife’s Grandmother. Before the war he had known my wife’s Aunt and it had been expected that they would become engaged and ultimately marry. This did not happen but I sometimes think of the stories he would have been able to tell had he survived.

Note.

Adolf (Addi) Glunz died on the 1st August 2002. He has been suffering from Alzheimer’s since 1986 as well as battling with Parkinson’s disease.

Compiled by: Peter Reichelt and Ian Simpson of Grantham who researched much of Philip’s life and gave permission to write this story and to show the photographs.