Pilot Officer John Gage LECKY, 41 Squadron, Royal Air Force Skip to content

Search our stories

Pilot Officer John Gage LECKY, 41 Squadron, Royal Air Force
29/04/2024
Second World War Air Force United Kingdom
By Jeremy Elsworth

United Kingdom

Pilot Officer John Gage Lecky
2436003
View record on CWGC

John Lecky was born in Yokohama, Japan where his father was Language Officer at the British Embassy.

He was educated at Highfield Preparatory School, Liphook, Hampshire and Wrekin College, Shropshire, from 1934-1939.

He entered the RAF College, Cranwell in April 1939 as a Flight Cadet and was commissioned in March 1940. His first posting was to an army co-operation squadron and from there he joined 610 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill in August 1940, moving to 41 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch on the 1st of October 1940.

One of “The Few”, he was shot down in combat with Me109's on Friday the 11th of October and although he bailed out of his aircraft he was subsequently killed aged just 19.

His Spitfire, P9447, crashed at Preston Hall, Maidstone, Kent.

The only child of Lt-Col John Gage Lecky & Marion Dorothy Hume Lecky of Lower Bourne in Surrey, John is buried at Tilford (All Saints) Churchyard, Surrey. He is also commemorated on the Battle of Britain memorials in London & Kent.

'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few' : Winston S. Churchill, 20th of August 1940.

Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne, Kent © 2021 The Battle of Britain Trust CIO
Tilford (All Saints) Churchyard, Surrey (image © unknown).