birth_date: 1916-11-02 00:00:00
avg_rating: 4.56
name: Alastair Dyson Panton
about: Alastair Dyson Panton was educated at Bedford School before going on to RAF Cranwell as a Flight Cadet in 'B' Sqn in 1936. A year later, he was a newly minted Pilot Officer in No. 53 Squadron, flying the twin-engine Bristol Blenheim IV.Upon the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Panton's unit was sent to France as part of the RAF's Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF), flying reconnaissance missions over Germany. No. 53 Squadron was heavily engaged in action during the Battle of France, with Panton being shot down twice. Notwithstanding that, he managed to return to Britain, where, after a few days' rest, he was sent back to France in June 1940 as acting squadron commander of a Blenheim squadron. Panton and his crew were the Alastair Dyson Panton was educated at Bedford School before going on to RAF Cranwell as a Flight Cadet in 'B' Sqn in 1936. A year later, he was a newly minted Pilot Officer in No. 53 Squadron, flying the twin-engine Bristol Blenheim IV.Upon the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Panton's unit was sent to France as part of the RAF's Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF), flying reconnaissance missions over Germany. No. 53 Squadron was heavily engaged in action during the Battle of France, with Panton being shot down twice. Notwithstanding that, he managed to return to Britain, where, after a few days' rest, he was sent back to France in June 1940 as acting squadron commander of a Blenheim squadron. Panton and his crew were the last of the squadron to escape to Britain following the French surrender to Germany.A month later, Panton's luck ran out. He was carrying out an operation against an oil depot in Ghent, Belgium on July 14, 1940 in Blenheim IV, N3551, when he was brought down and taken prisoner. Postwar, Danton served in the RAF, serving in a variety of commands both at home and overseas until his retirement on December 18, 1971. He passed away, aged 86, in 2002. ...more
death_date: 2002-12-29 00:00:00