Photo : NESLAM

Photo : NEWMP

Photo : NESLAM

Family Headstone

The Dornier crashing into Victoria Station. ATB

The family headstone reads:

Charles Herbert
Sample O.B.E.
second son of
Thomas Sample
died June 2nd 1938
aged 75 years
Amy Sample
wife of
James Bertram Sample
died Sept. 5th 1938
aged 56 years.
James Bertram Sample
fourth son of Thomas Sample
died May 27th 1953
in his 80th year.
Squadron Leader John Sample
D.F.C. R.A.F.
elder son of T. Norman Sample
killed on active service
October 28TH 1941 aged 28 years.

John Sample was born in Longhirst, Northumberland, on the 31st January 1913. Son of Thomas Norman [a ship owner], and Kate Isabel Sample, of Morpeth. M.L.A.S., F.S.I.

He was educated at Aysgarth School in Yorkshire from the age of 8 and at Lancing College where he was in Seconds House from January 1927 to July 1930. He was a member of the Shooting VIII in 1930 and the Running Team in 1930. John was appointed as a House Captain in 1930.

He was a gifted musician, being accomplished on a number of different instruments including the flute, concertina and Northumbrian pipes.

On leaving school he qualified as a Land Agent gaining MLAS and FSI before working in partnership with his uncle, William Collings Sample, who was Land Agent to the Duke of Portland.

During this period he joined the Auxiliary Air Force training at RAF Usworth, some thirty miles from his home. He was the fifth man to apply for pilot training at the base and he gained his 'A' licence flying an Avro 504.

He joined 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, on the 27th April 1934 as a Pilot Officer. The Squadron was at the time based at Usworth, near Sunderland.

On the 27th October 1935 he was promoted to Flying Officer. John was appointed Flight Commander of 'B' Flight on the 10th January 1939 and was as a Flight Lieutenant called to full time service on the 24th August 1939.

On the 13th November 1939, 607 flew from Acklington to Croydon and two days later to Merville in France. During the fighting in May 1940, Sample destroyed a He111 on the 10th and shared in the destruction of another. On the 11th he damaged a He111 and was shot down himself, baling out safely. The squadron was withdrawn to Croydon on 21st May. Sample was given command of 504 Squadron at Wick on 29th May 1940.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 4th June 1940).

On Tuesday 10th September 607 Squadron moved to Acklington, Northumberland, so that runways could be laid at Usworth. At 12:45 on Thursday 17th October 'Blue' section from 'B' Flight of 607 Squadron was scrambled to seek German seaplanes that had been reported off the coast. Flight Lieutenant Sample (Gladiator K7995/AF-O), Flying Officer Dudley Craig and Pilot Officer William Whitty (Gladiator K8026/L) headed out to sea, where at 13:30 they intercepted a Do18 flyingboat at 1,500 feet some 25 miles of the coast. Sample led the flight in a diving attack from 8,000 feet and each of the Gladiators carried out three individual attacks from astern. Bits were seen flying off the Do18 but it continued to fly, trailing smoke and descending out to sea. With ammunition expended and fuel getting low, Sample led his section back to Acklington.

The German aircraft was M7+YK from KüFlGr. 806, which struggled eastwards for about 35 miles before force-landing into the sea alongside the destroyer HMS Juno. The crew were rescued and made prisoner while the aircraft was destroyed with gunfire.

This was 607 Squadron’s first victory. Sample was given command of 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron at Wick in Northern Scotland in late May 1940. The squadron was in the process of rest and rebuild of strength and took on the responsibility of providing the air defence of the naval base at Scapa Flow.

Later the squadron moved to Castletown on the Pentand Firth, bringing it closer to its patrol area.

He was awarded the DFC on the 4th June 1940 for his action in France. His citation stated that he had been an inspiration to his squadron.

On the 1st September John was promoted to Squadron Leader.

On Thursday 5th September the squadron moved south to Hendon, north-west of London, to take part in the Battle of Britain. At 17:35 on the 7th September he claimed a damaged Do215 in the Manston area.

On Sunday the 15th September [now celebrated as Battle of Britain day], the squadron took part in a big interception over London when they scrambled at 11:15 to the Maidstone area. Sample spotted a formation of Dornier Do 17s at 15,000 feet from 4/KG3, and led his squadron in. He attacked a Do 17Z-2, at 12:10, which was trailing white smoke after having been attacked by about five fighters, He climbed up above the Dornier and then made a diving attack. As the distance between himself and the bomber narrowed, he noticed a red light in the rear-gunners cockpit, but as he got even closer, he saw that he was looking through the whole length of the inside of the Dornier to the pilot and observers cockpit. The red light that he saw was in fact the red glow of fire. He gave another short burst, and as he turned and went past the aircraft, the inside was nothing but a red-hot furnace inside. He then saw it go into a spin after the tail section broke away, followed by the wing sections beyond the engines. The narrow fuselage with short stubbs of wing roots fell though the cloud to oblivion, he never saw it crash. The Wireless operators code book and log book has been donated to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum. The Do 17Z fell in the forecourt of Victoria railway station. This was Do 17 (2361) of 1./KG 76 flown by Oberleutnant Robert Zehbe.

Oberleutnant Robert Zehbe was badly beaten by a mob when he landed in Kennington. He died following day as a result. Metropolitan Police have nothing to say on the subject.

The following is the Official report from the Diary :
This Dornier was set alight in repeated fighter attacks during [a] sortie over central London and abandoned by crew. Engaged by various fighters including : Flight Lieutenant J. Jefferies, Sergeants J. Hubacek, R. Puda and J. Kaucky of No 310 (Czech) Squadron. Pilot Officers J. Curchin and A. K. Ogilvie of No 609 Squadron, Flying Officer P.T. Parsons pf No 504 Squadron and possibly that also attacked by Pilot Officer A. C. Cochrane of No 257 Squadron. Finally struck by Hurricane flown by Sergeant R. T. Holmes of No 504 Squadron during further attack and broke up over Vauxhall and Fulham, main wreckage falling into the forecourt of Victoria railway station at Wilton Road. 11.50 am Uffz. G. Hubel killed. Oberlt. R. Zehbe badly wounded baled out and fiercly attacked by civilian mob on landing at Kennington - died of injuries the following day. Obergefr. L. Armbruster baled out and captured unhurt on landing in Wells Park Road, Sydenham. Uffz. L. Hammermeister baled out wounded and captured on landing in Dulwich. Aircraft F1+FH a write-off.

The unfortunate pilot of this aircraft was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery where he remains today. His comrades on that last mission, Hans Goschenhofer and Gustav Hubel, are both interred in the Soldatenfriedhof at Cannock Chase. The Dornier came down on the corner of Wilton Road and Terminus place, scarring the facade of Victoria Station [which until 1980 the scars were still visible], the work plate or this aircraft is now n the possession of the Shoreham Aircraft Preservation Society.

Thanks to ATB The Blitz page 100 Vol 2.

At 14:00 the 504 Squadron was scrambled again once more, this time from Hornchurch. In company with 249 Squadron, it attacked a formation of Do 17's from 4/KG3, near Gravesend. Breaking up the formation, Sample took on a Do 17Z-2 [3457], at 14:35, which was making a run for home. [The Dornier had been hit by AA fire in its engine, during a sortie to bomb London Docks and tried to reach cloud cover]. He made four attacks and firing in two-seconds bursts, the Do 17 crashed onto Barnehurst golf course at 14:45. [The crew abandoned the Dornier which crashed through some trees into houses at Perry Street, adjoining Barnehurst Golf Course, near Dartford. 2.45 pm and later exploded. Uffz. K. Hausberg baled out during fighter attacks and killed believed due to parachute failure. Lt. Herbert Michaelis and Flgr. H. Bormann baled out and captured wounded. Uffz. W. Burbulla baled out and captured severely wounded, died 2 days later in Dartford Hospital. Aircraft 5K+JM a write off.]This was Do 17Z-2 (3457) of 4./KG 3 flown by Leutnant Herbert Michaelis.

Sample then joined in a combined attack on a He 111H-1 (2771), V/KG 53 flown by Unteroffizier H. Lange. This aircraft was shot down by fighters, force landed on West Malling airfield at 15:00 with one engine disabled. Aircraft A1+AN a write-off.

The squadron was later moved to Filton and then later to Exeter. During this time they were responsible for the air defence of the Bristol and Westland aircraft factories.

When the Battle of Britain ended he led the squadron on offensive sweeps over France. In March 1941 he was posted away from 504 Squadron to 10 Group HQ as a controller.

On the 20th September 1941 137 Squadron was formed at RAF Charmy Down, near Bath in Somerset and Sample was given command. They were equipped with the new Westland Whirlwind, a twin engined, four cannon fighter.On the 24th October 137 Squadron flew its first operation, a 'Mandolin'. The target, several trains carrying fuel containers in railway sidings at Landernau, near Brest, were not found, but Squadron Leader Sample (Whirlwind P7053) attacked several wagons and Flying Officer Clark (Whirlwind P7050) destroyed a locomotive.

On the 28th October, weather was fair, some cloud in the morning with average visibility, improving in the afternoon. Practice flying was carried out all day with a total of 14.20 hours flown. Squadron Leader Sample (P7053) with Sergeant M. J. Peskett (P7058) took off from base at 17:45 to do a formation practice south of Bath, with practice attacks to be carried out by Sergeant J. F. Luing who took off 10 minutes later. All three aircraft carried out turns at about 1000ft for some minutes and Sergeant Luing broke away on Sample’s orders to carry out the first attack. On approaching for the second attack, Sergeant Luing saw Sample’s aircraft going down out of control, with part of the tailplane coming off. The machine was in a spin, and when close to the ground, Sergeant Luing observed Sample leave his machine and his parachute open, but his canopy did not open, and Sample landed on the roof of some farm buildings (Manon Farm) near Englishcombe. The aircraft landed on the same buildings and burst into flames. Sample was killed. Sergeant Peskett reported that his aircraft was bumped but remained under control and he returned immediately to base and landed. His aircraft was found to be damaged but repairable on the unit. He did not see anything of the Sample’s crash. After seeing the Sample’s crash, Sergeant Luing returned to Base and reported the accident, which occurred at about 18:10.

Examination of Peskett’s aircraft suggested that the starboard propeller had hit the tail of Sample’s aircraft. Both sets of undercarriage doors and the central bulge of the Fowler flap also showed signs of contact. P7058 was flown, gear down, for repair at Filton where the two squadrons' shared Servicing Echelon was based.

Sample was buried in St. Andrews churchyard Bothal, on the 3rd November.

At the time of his death, Sample was credited with 1 shared biplane victory and a total of 1.

Source: Commonwealth Biplane Fighters, Lancing College.

Newcastle Journal 30/10/1941.

Gallant Morpeth airman killed. The North has lost a gallant airman by the death, on active service, of Squadron Leader John Sample, of Longhirst Grange, Morpeth. Squadron Leader Sample, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross last year, was before the war one of the ‘weekend flyers’, belonging to Durham County Auxiliary Air Force. ‘He was a great inspiration to his squadron’, it was stated at the time he received his decoration, and the disclosure was made that he made a successful parachute jump in May, 1940, when after accounting for two enemy aircraft, he was himself shot down. Squadron Leader Sample, was born in 1913, was formerly in business with his uncle, Mr. W.C. Sample, as a land agent in Morpeth, and was a member of the Land Agents Society and the Surveyors’ Institute.

Thanks to: Winston Ramsey

John Sample is remembered at Longhirst on L27.01 and L27.02 at Newcastle on NUT261 and in a RAF Book of Remembrance page 100.

He is also remembered at Lancing College

After the Battle The Blitz Then and Now Vol 1 to Vol 3
More details of John Sample life
Battle of Britain London Monument
The CWGC entry for Squadron Leader Sample