Stanley Connors

Stanley Connors, DFC & Bar (8 April 1912 – 18 August 1940) was a British flying ace who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

During the Battle of France, he shot down six German aircraft in the space of two days, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He destroyed several more aircraft during the subsequent Battle of Britain, but was shot down and killed immediately after claiming his final aerial victory on what is now known as The Hardest Day.

[1][3] Connors, who was nicknamed 'Conny',[4] joined the Special Reserve of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was commissioned as a pilot officer on 26 March 1936.

In February 1940, the squadron shifted again, this time to Wick, where it provided the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow with aerial cover.

[6] Connors, who had been promoted to flying officer in August the previous year, claimed his first aerial victories on 18 May, destroying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter and then a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber.

[1][3] The published citation read: This officer showed outstanding fighting ability and gallantry when, during two consecutive days in May, 1940, whilst greatly outnumbered, he shot down three Heinkel 111s, two Junkers 88s and one Messerschmitt 109.At the end of the month and into early June, No.

Once the evacuation was completed, the squadron subsequently provided escorts for the Fleet Air Arm's bombing operations over the French coast and during one of these, on 7 June, Connors destroyed a Bf 109 to the west of Abbeville.

111 Squadron, now based at Croydon, commenced patrolling over the English Channel and then became drawn into the aerial fighting over the southeast of England during the Battle of Britain.

[1][4] Published on 6 September, the citation, which noted that he had since been killed in action, read: This officer has led his flight in all its operations against enemy with great skill and courage; In a week of almost continuous action he shot down at least four enemy aircraft, bringing his total successes to twelve.Connors, who was survived by his wife Marjorie, was buried in North Berwick Cemetery.