Roland Lee Knight

Roland Anthony "Tony" Lee Knight, DFC (1917 – 27 September 1941) was a fighter pilot and flying ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, credited with six "kills".[2][3][4]

Roland Anthony Lee Knight
Nickname(s)Tony
Born1917
Fareham, England
Died27 September 1941 (aged 24)
Dunkirk, France
Buried
Dunkirk Town Cemetery[1]
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1936–1941
RankSquadron Leader
Service number37772
Commands heldNo. 403 Squadron (1941)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Knight was born in 1917 in Fareham and educated at Bedford Modern School.[5][6]

RAF career

Knight joined the Royal Air Force in 1936,[7] and was commissioned as pilot officer on 17 February 1937.[8] He was promoted to flying officer on 17 November 1938 and to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1940.[9]

Knight was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1941 with the following citation:

This officer has shown great personal courage and sound leadership in sweeps over enemy territory. By his dash and consistent courage Flight Lieutenant Knight has set an example to his flight. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and damaged others.[10]

On 21 August 1941 he was promoted to squadron leader and made Commanding Officer of the newly formed No. 403 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch.[11] Shortly thereafter he was shot down on active service over Dunkirk, France on 27 September 1941.[12]

Knight’s combat record reads: six kills, three probable kills, three damaged and one destroyed on the ground.[2]

References
  1. Reading Room Manchester. "CWGC – Casualty Details". cwgc.org. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. "Aces High". google.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. "Tony Lee-Knight". acesofww2.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. "Battle of Britain London Monument – F/Lt. R A L Knight". bbm.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. ancestry.co.uk
  6. "Roll of Honour – Bedfordshire – Bedford Modern School – World War 2". roll-of-honour.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. The London Gazette, 5 May 1936
  8. The London Gazette, 23 February 1937
  9. The London Gazette, 29 October 1940
  10. The London Gazette, 5 August 1941
  11. "World War 2 Awards.com – KNIGHT, Roland Anthony Lee". ww2awards.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  12. "Sq Ldr Roland Anthony Lee Knight ( – 1941) – Find A Grave Photos". findagrave.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
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