LANGHAM Douglas

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.)

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Bob Knowles:
Place of Death: Hoppenrode, Ruppen, near Berlin
Place of Birth: Blockley, Glos.
Hometown: Blockley, Glos.
Trained under the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona and at various stations in Canada. After OTU (Operational Training Unit) and HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit), posted straight to 7 Squadron, Path Finder Force, at Oakington, Cambs. Awarded PFF (Pathfinder Force) badge 1 March 1944 and DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) 14 Feb 1944.

Doug was my uncle, the photograph shows him wearing his gold PFF eagle on his breast pocket. PFF crew were not allowed to wear these on operations for fear of recriminations should they be captured, so it was in his personal effects returned to his family after he failed to return, and is now in my possession. I collaborated with author Sean Feast to tell Doug’s story, published in chapter 8 of ‘Bomber Command: Battle of Berlin – Failed To Return’ (ISBN 978 0 9934152 7 2).

Douglas Langham
Photo courtesy & copyright of Bob Knowles