Sgt A Amos RAF. The medal ribbon is the Africa Star and clasp.
Albert Amos was born on the 3rd January 1921 and lived with his parents in Ashford, Kent, England with his half brother Elmer and brother Des. In 1937 he worked as a farm hand at a local farm and a year later left to join the RAF and train as ground crew.
Albert was posted to 2 Depot, Cardington in July 1938 and then to 5 Wing RAF Halton No 1 School of Technical Training in October 1938 followed by a move to 1 Wing RAF Hednesford No 6 School of Technical Training in April 1939. He was posted to 48 Squadron, who flew Avro Ansons from Eastchurch in Kent, in July 1939 and returned to Hednesford with the Squadron on the early in 1940. From there he moved on to No 2 Wing of No 2 School of Technical Training at Cosford and then to 150 Squadron which at this time was operating Fairey Battle light bombers from Newton. At this time he held the rank of AC2 and his record shows his trade as Fitter IIA, his character as Very Good and his proficiency as Superior.
A transfer to the Middle East followed in September 1941 and he was posted to Heliopolis, which was a large RAF base near Cairo, Egypt. For a time Albert appears to have been attached to BARU, the British Airways Repair Unit, and in June 1942 he transferred to 208 Squadron which was flying Hawker Hurricanes and based at several desert-landing grounds during this period. In January 1943 he went to No 73 Middle East Operational Training School Nile and then to No 73 Operational Conversion Unit which was at Abu Sueir near to Cairo and specialised in fighter bomber training.
Whilst in the Middle East Albert was hospitalised on 2 occasions although the reason for this is not clear. In July 1943 his half brother Elmer, who was a Flight Engineer with 103 Squadron, was killed in action. At this time the RAF had a shortage of Flight Engineers and Albert volunteered for this duty was accepted and returned to the UK on the 15th October 1943.
After attending No 3 ACRC and CRC, he was posted to No 4 School of Technical Training at St Athan, South Wales. During this time he spent a few days at one of the Avro factories where the Lancaster bombers were made.
On completion of his Flight Engineers training Albert was promoted to Sergeant and was then transferred to No 11 Base 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit where he joined the crew of Flying Officer A McNeill RCAF. After completion of training this crew were transferred to 166 Squadron at Kirmington in Lincolnshire on the 10th August 1944.
They commenced operations on the night of the 25/26thAugust 1944 taking part in a night raid on Russelheim and in the next 6 weeks Albert flew 14 operations with this crew. The crew were detailed to fly a daylight operation to Duisberg on the 14th October but for some reason, probably sickness, Albert could not take part and his place in the crew was taken by Sergeant W G Angles RAF. Sadly they were shot down and all killed.
Extract from the Kent local newspaper from November 1944 showing all three brothers.
