| Admitted to: Wretham Cottage Hospital; RAF Hospital, Halton |
Date of Injury: 08/09/1940 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| D.O.B/Age when admitted: 29/07/1915 |
Cause of Incident: Enemy Action. Shot down in Hurricane by ME109. Bailed out. |
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| Transferred to QVH: |
Injuries: Burns to legs. Facial injuries. |
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| No. of Operations at East Grinstead: |
IDENTITY CARD
This is to certify that the patient mentioned below and whose description is stated hereon is the authorised holder of this Identity card.
| Forename: John |
Surname: Fleming |
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| Service No: 35195 |
Nationality: New Zealand |
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| Awards/Honours: MBE |
Patient Unit: 65 Sqn |
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| Profession: Pilot |
Patient Rank: |
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| Death: 11/12/1995 |
Age at Death: 80yrs |
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| Dr Rank: |
Dr Unit: |
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Fleming joined the RAF in 1938 and qualified as a pilot the following year.
On the morning of 8 September 1940, Fleming's squadron was scrambled to intercept a group of enemy bombers. They engaged over Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Fleming's Hurricane was set on fire by an Me 109 and one of the fuel tanks exploded. He baled out at 20,000ft and came down at Wrotham Heath, to the north.
Fleming was one of the Guinea Pigs that McIndoe had transferred to QVH during his rounds of hospitals, to try the saline bath treatment.
He was discharged from QVH in August 1941 and returned to service the following year as Station's Armament Officer at 23 OTU, RAF Pershore, Worcestershire.
Founder member of the Guinea Pig Club.
OTU - Operational Training Unit
We've been looking through our collections, and discovered this 1972 photograph from the East Grinstead Observer, o…