John Vernon Hartley

Rank:Lieutenant
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:Royal Navy
Name of Rgt or Ship:H.M.S. Furious
Died:08/11/1942Age:27
Country of burial:Lost at Sea
Cemetery or Memorial:Lee-on-Solent Memorial
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
The family formerly lived at of Sale Heys, before moving to London.    Both
he and his father, were both prominent rugby and cricket players.

He was in Rhodesia in 1927 and won a scholarship to the Plumtree School
there.  He returned home at the time of the Munich crisis (Sept 1938), to
volunteer as a naval airman in the FAA.       He continued to play rugby
here and played for Rosslyn Park in the 1938/39 season.   Whilst at
Greenwich, he also captained the Royal Naval College cricket team.   He
gained his Wings in August 1939 and served on the aircraft carriers Argus,
Ark Royal, Illustrious and Furious.  Whilst serving on the Ark Royal, he
sent the first signal sighting the German battleship the Bismark.  This
resulted in Swordfish aircraft from the carrier being sent out to attack
the Bismark.

Lieutenant (A) - Fleet Air Arm.

The 26/11/1943 edition of the local newspaper refers a FAA booklet:-

Sale born Lt. J.V. Hartley piloting a Fairey Albertross was leading an
attack on La Senia aerodrome near Oran covering the North African landings.
 They encountered heavy Ack Ack and fighter opposition and his aircraft was
in flames when he attacked.  He could have baled out, but went on into
their objective.  The remains of the aircraft and the crew were found by
the American forces and he was buried at Arzeu Bay, 15 miles east of Oran
on the 11/11/1942.

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