Philip David Lloyd

Sgt Philip David Lloyd, Service No: 745794. He was a member of the Royal Airforce Reserve. 41 Squadron. The son of James Henry Lloyd (1874-1941) and Elizabeth Kate Lloyd nee Harmer (1873-1967), of Loughton; husband to Phyllis Irma Lloyd. He is buried at the Holy Innocents Churchyard High Beech. This is the same church in which he was married in July 1940. His elder brother Frederick Ralph Lloyd, was killed in the first World War whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers in October 1918, aged 19.

He was born in Loughton on 6th March in 1917 and attended Loughton School. He worked for Chigwell Urban District Council (as did Air Vice Marshall Johnny Johnson the great fighter ace of WWII). He died on 15th October 1940 at Blean, City of Canterbury aged 23. He had been married for less than 4 months !

He joined the RAFVR in September 1938 and did his weekend flying at 21 E&RFTS, Stapleford Tawney. Called to full-time service at the outbreak of war, Lloyd completed his training at Hornchurch and joined 41 Squadron at Catterick in early September 1940.

Lloyd was shot down and killed whilst on patrol over the sea in a surprise attack by Hauptmann Fozo of 4/JG51 on 15th October. His Spitfire, X4178, crashed into the Channel. His body was washed ashore near Kings Hall, Herne Bay twelve days later.