Pilot Officer Hubert Weatherby Cottam was a native of Sunderland. Prior to the outbreak of war, Cottam served with 607 Squadron as an airman under training as a pilot. When the war broke out he carried on his training with the RAF. Cottam served with 213 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. While serving as an instructor in Southern Rhodesia he was killed in an air accident, December 5, 1941.

Flight Lieutenant George Dudley Craig was from Hexham, Northumberland where he worked in the legal profession. He joined 607 Squadron in 1937 and remained with that squadron throughout the French campaign as well as the Battle of Britain. He was C.O. of 607 Squadron when he was shot down in a low-level attack on Le Touquet Airfield, November 1941. He remained a POW for the rest of the war and was involved in various escape activities. He was awarded the OBE in recognition of his work behind the wire.

Sergeant John Teasdale Craig DFM was from Witton-Le-Wear, County Durham. He served with the RAF as an apprentice and later volunteered for flying duties. He served with 111 Squadron from before the outbreak of war and flew in operations over France, where he was shot down. He flew with 111 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain being wounded in the fighting. He became a flying instructor and was killed in a mid-air collision with another instructor, June 2, 1941. Craig was one of the pilots to achieve the status of 'Ace'.

Pilot Officer George Mathwin Forrester originated from Newcastle upon Tyne but later lived in the Southampton area. He flew with 605 Squadron and was killed, August 9, 1940 when he collided with a He 111. This was the first time that he had faced the enemy in action.

Flight Lieutenant Denys Edgar Gillam was born in Tynemouth, Northumberland moving at a later date to Yorkshire. He joined the RAF before the war and was awarded the AFC in 1938 for food flying missions to Rathlin Island cut off from mainland Ireland by heavy storms. Gillam was awarded the DFC twice and the DSO three times. He was still actively flying at the end of the war. Gillam flew with 616 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Gillam was another pilot to acieve the status of 'Ace'.

Sgt John Nixon Glendinning was from Stanley in County Durham. He flew with 54 Squadron before moving to 74 Squadron. Hwe was one of five pilots from the North East to fly with the 'Tigers'. Glendinning was killed on a patrol returning from France, March 12, 1941. He is thought to have been shot down by Werner Molders. Glendinning was one of the 'Aces'.

Pilot Officer Douglas Hastings came from North Shields and joined the RAF shortly before the outbreak of war. He flew with 74 Squadron over Dunkirk and the early part of the Battle of Britain. While the squadron was 'resting' at Coltishall, Norfolk Hastings was killed in a mid-air collision, October 8, 1940, with a junior pilot while they carried out mock dogfighting practice. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE.