Nickname(s) Tony Service number 37772 Place of burial Dunkirk, France Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II | Allegiance United Kingdom Name Roland Knight Service/branch Royal Air Force Years of service 1936-1941 Died Dunkirk, France Rank Squadron leader | |
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross | ||
Commonwealth War Grave Dunkirk, France | ||
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".
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Early life
Knight was born in 1917 in Fareham and educated at Bedford Modern School.
RAF career
Knight joined the Royal Air Force in 1936, and was commissioned as pilot officer on 17 February 1937. He was promoted to flying officer on 17 November 1938 and to flight lieutenant on 3 September 1940.
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.
On 21 August 1941 he was promoted to squadron leader and made Commanding Officer of the newly formed No. 403 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. Shortly thereafter he was shot down on active service over Dunkirk, France on 27 September 1941.
Knight’s combat record reads: six kills, three probable kills, three damaged and one destroyed on the ground.