Jimmy Davies

Who was Jimmy Davies?

Flight Lieutenant James William Elias "Jimmy" Davies DFC was the first American-born airman to die in World War II combat, being shot down and killed on 27 June 1940.

Although born in the United States, his family moved to Wales before the start of the war so he appears in the official records as British.

Davies joined the Royal Air Force in 1936 and by 1939 was flying the Hawker Hurricane monoplane fighter with 79 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill. The squadron was soon in action and by the end of June 1940 Davies had already claimed six German aircraft shot down and two shared. On 27 June 1940, he was due to be presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross from the King when he was sent as an escort to protect six aircraft on a reconnaissance mission to the French port of St Valery. The three Hurricanes were attacked by three Messerschmitt Bf 109s over the English Channel; one of the Hurricanes escaped and one pilot bailed out into the sea, but Davies was killed.

His name is inscribed on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede for airmen with no known grave.