Little is known of Raymond’s short life since he left Wrekin in 1933 but like a handful of OW RAF Officers of the time he had a liking for fast cars, and who on occasion found themselves involved in motor accidents, sometimes with fatal consequences, but thankfully not in this instance.

On 10^th May 1940, a few days before his final flight, Raymond was leading a flight of three Hurricanes when they came across a formation of Heinkel III aircraft at approximately 12,000ft over Lillers in the Pas-de-Calais. The following Combat report was written by him upon return to base.

On Monday 13^th May 1940 Raymond, flying Hurricane N2653 was returning from a patrol when he collided with Hurricane N2654 and crashed 5 miles from his temporary French base at 16:00 hrs, near Valenciennes, France. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft written off.

Raymond had married Peggy Dixson of Farnborough, Kent in January 1940: son of Arthur Lines-Roberts & Marion Edith Lines-Roberts.

A copy of this story is available to download here.

Revised: October 2025