Page 33 - issue17.05.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, May 17, 2019 P25

Obituaries

Fighter pilot who earned the

DFC in North Africa campaign

RYAN COLSTON was usually in the face of intense shipping, which proved to be The squadron moved to an
just 18 years old when anti-aircraft fire. a sign that the Germans airfield near Tunis. On June
war broke out and he As the Allied armies expected to have to 10, Colston flew to photograph
B immediately volunteered advanced eastwards withdraw from North Pantelleria Island 50 miles off the
to join the RAF. towards Tunisia, the Africa as the First Tunisian coast.
He trained as a pilot and initially squadron had to Army was advancing He dropped a message telling the
flew the Lysander in the army-co- keep moving to new east as Montgomery’s enemy garrison to surrender and to
operation role with 225 Squadron airstrips. Eighth Army was confirm this by displaying a white
based near Salisbury Plain. In late February, closing in from the cross. He flew over the next day to
After receiving Hurricanes in American forces were west and the two were see that a white cross was on display.
September 1942, the squadron engaged in a fierce soon to join up and With the end of fighting in
prepared to move to North Africa battle at the Kasserine advance towards Tunis. Tunisia, the squadron began
to support Operation Torch, the Pass and Colston led a force Colston was flying two or training for the expected invasion of
Allied landings in Algeria. of 24 Spitfires and nine Hurricane three sorties a day and in the first Sicily but Colston was struck down
On November 12 the squadron FLIGHT COMMANDER: Bryan Colston bombers to attack German week he reported enemy shipping with typhoid fever and hospitalised.
arrived at Maison Blanche near (above), his Spitfire VC in Algeria (inset) positions. leaving the port of Tunis. Eventually, in late September, he
Algiers and Colston flew the At the de-briefing it was Operations intensified On May 7, Allied troops entered returned to England.
squadron’s first war sortie. discovered that the tanks were the throughout March and Colston’s Tunis and the following day Colston He recovered and became an
Its primary task was tactical new German Tiger tank, the first aircraft was hit numerous times but drove to the city where crowds instructor at a fighter operational
reconnaissance in support of the time it had been seen in the theatre. on each occasion he managed to mobbed any Allied personnel. training unit (OTU) where he
British First Army. The squadron flew from makeshift return to his airstrip. Recalling the event later he said: “It commanded the navigation flight.
The aircraft flew in pairs with airstrips bulldozed from the scrub By now the squadron was an all- was a day I will never forget”. After promotion to Squadron
one carrying out the visual and and sand and each was given the Spitfire unit and most sorties were Operations continued and Leader he transferred to No. 41
photographic reconnaissance with name of a London railway station. flown as armed reconnaissance Colston flew some photographic OTU to train fighter reconnaissance
the second acting as a fighter escort. In late January 1943, the squadron missions where enemy positions missions in one of four Mustangs pilots. He later commanded 695
Colston was appointed as a flight started to receive Spitfires to replace were recorded and any suitable now operated by the squadron. Squadron flying Spitfire XVI
commander and he flew many sorties the worn out Hurricanes and these targets were strafed with cannon. On May 27, he celebrated his aircraft from Horsham St Faith near
looking for enemy ground forces. were allocated to Colston’s flight. April proved to be the busiest 22nd birthday and the following Norwich.
On one occasion he fired his In addition to conducting month and Colston carried out a day received notice that he had Colston was demobilized after
20mm cannons at a German tank tactical reconnaissance, Colston number of reconnaissance sorties been awarded the DFC. The citation the war to become a chartered
and was surprised to see the shells and his fellow pilots also attacked to the ports of Tunisia. concluded, “He is an outstanding surveyor. He died on April 22 aged
bounce off the armour. enemy transports with cannons, He noticed a build-up of enemy Army Co-operation pilot”. 97.

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