On 17 August 1940, 25 years old
Percy Hopkins walked through the gates of the RAF's Uxbridge
Depot, located on western edge of greater London, to begin his
service in the RAF. At Percy's home was his wife Peggy, who was six months pregnant.
Fifteen months later, after training
as an aircraft gunner, Percy was commissioned as a Pilot Officer
on 8th November 1941. He completed his training as a gunner on
18th November 1941. Still not combat-ready, Hoppy
Hopkins underwent further training at Penshore, near Worchester.
In April 1942, he was transferred to No. 142
Squadron, then shortly later to No 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham
Wolds. At that time, he was granted leave to visit his wife Peggy
and see his eighteen-month daughter Cherry. Peggy was five months
pregnant.
Within a week of joining Squadron 103, on 6 May
1942, Percy undertook his first combat mission in a Wellington
bomber.
On the night of 27-28 August 1942, the RAF carried out a
bombing raid over Germany that involved 289 Allied aircraft. Just
before midnight, en route
to Kassel, the Halifax bomber P for Peter
in which Percy was tail-gunner was shot down
by enemy fighter aircraft. The aircraft crashed near
Haaksbergen, with all crew being killed.
On that day of 27 August 1942, Peggy Hopkins gave
birth to their son John.
Years later, in conjunction of ex-RAF serviceman
Douglas Andrews, Hoppy's son John published a book that pays
tribute to his father, and to the people in the Netherlands near
Haaksbergen who have created and maintain a memorial site at the
place where P for Peter crashed.
The book
Hoppy Hopkins - Tail End Charlie ... can be viewed
here. It is a large file. over 11 MB, and it may take some time
for all pages to appear.
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