John Topham (RAF officer)
John Topham OBE, DSO, DFC & Bar (18 March 1917–early 1987) was a British flying ace with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.
219 Squadron, he flew Bristol Blenheim night fighters and made his first claim for an aerial victory during the Battle of Britain.
He destroyed a number of aircraft during 1941 to 1942, with Sergeant H. Berridge as his radar operator, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar for his successes.
Still paired with Berridge, he shot down more aircraft as the squadron operated over northern France and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in late 1944.
John Groves Topham was born on 18 March 1917 in Bradford, England, and was educated at Manchester's Stand Grammar School.
In early 1939, he obtained a short service commission in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and commenced initial flight training, at No.
It became fully operational in February 1940 but during the later stages of the Battle of Britain was occasionally called upon to assist in dealing with Luftwaffe raids in the south of England.
219 Squadron began to convert to the Bristol Beaufighter night fighter and the following month it commenced operating from Redhill, near London.
[5] Paired with Sergeant H. Berridge as his radar operator, Topham shot down a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber to the north of Selsey Bill on the night of 13 March 1941.
[4] The announcement was made on 3 March 1942; the citation, published in The London Gazette, read: This officer has participated in operational flying over a long period.
He is a skilful and keen night fighter pilot and, although he has frequently carried out his sorties in extremely unfavourable flying conditions, he has destroyed 2 Junkers 88's.
Squadron Leader Topham has at all times set a worthy example.Topham shot down a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber 40 miles (64 km) south of Worthingon the night of 25 April.
[1][4] His squadron was based at Exeter at the time and operated the Beaufighter on night fighting duties as well as aerial search and rescue missions.
[10] In one of these, Topham destroyed a Junkers Ju 188 medium bomber 10 miles (16 km) to the south of St Catherine's Point.
In January 1946 Topham was appointed commander of a fighter wing in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.
[12] Leaving the United Kingdom after ending his appointment at Leeming, he served on the staff at the headquarters of the Far East Air Force in Singapore.
