James Storrar
James Eric Storrar, (24 July 1921 – 29 March 1995) was a British flying ace who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least fourteen aircraft.
Born in Ormskirk, Storrar joined the RAF when he was 17-years-old. Once he gained his wings, he was posted to No. 145 Squadron just after the commencement of the Second World War. He flew Hawker Hurricane fighters during the Battle of France, during which he claimed his first aerial victories. He achieved further success during the Battle of Britain. In late-1940, he was posted to No. 73 Squadron and went to the Middle East with this unit, flying in the Western Desert campaign. Storrar returned to the United Kingdom in mid-1941 to be treated for malaria and towards the end of the year returned to duty as an instructor.
From January to November 1943 Storrar commanded No. 65 Squadron, carrying out sorties to German-occupied France. This was followed by another period of instructing duties before he was appointed commander of No. 1697 (Air Despatch Letter Service) Flight in April 1944. Flying with this unit, he made the first landing by a British aircraft on the Normandy beachhead following the invasion of France of 6 June. From October 1944 to March 1945, he held a series of squadron commands, and led No. 234 Squadron during its involvement in Operation Carthage. He subsequently led a fighter wing during Liberation of the German-occupied Channel Islands in May 1945. In the immediate postwar period he commanded No. 239 Wing in Italy. He left the RAF in 1947 and studied veterinary science, during which he commenced a nearly ten-year period of service in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, including a period as commander of No. 610 Squadron. He was a veterinary surgeon in Chester until shortly before his death in 1995, aged 73.
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