Roland Anthony Lee Knight

Roland Anthony Lee Knight, known as “Tony,” was born in 1917 at Fareham, Hampshire, and educated at Bedford Modern School. He entered the Royal Air Force in 1936 and was commissioned as a pilot officer in February 1937, building a regular peacetime career that saw him reach flight lieutenant by 1940. Through the Battle of Britain he flew Blenheims with No. 23 Squadron. In 1941 he moved to the day-fighter offensive over occupied France, flying Spitfires with No. 91 Squadron and claiming a string of Messerschmitt Bf 109 victories during fighter sweeps. His leadership and aggression on these operations earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted on 5 August 1941, the citation praising his courage and example over enemy territory. Promoted squadron leader, he took command of the newly formed No. 403 (RCAF) Squadron at Hornchurch in August 1941. On 27 September 1941, flying Spitfire VB AD207 on a sweep, he was shot down over Dunkirk and killed, aged 24. He is buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery.