Phillip Levi Steele. Sub-Lieutenant (A). HMS Nighthawk (RAF Drem) 07/08/1945

No, the (A) means (Aviation) as in Fleet Air Arm. It is only in the RAF where (A) is taken as Acting.

Thanks again Alan,

Every days a school day. Always learning.

No, the (A) means (Aviation) as in Fleet Air Arm. It is only in the RAF where (A) is taken as Acting.

Thanks for that Alan and AT,

I remembered the name but not why. Yes Norwood is the correct for the Hellcat,

Steele is given as Sub Lieutenant (A) where the A means acting so I guess TEMP or ACTING is the same thing. How it is in the title is how it is in the CWGC so thats what I am going with unless I find it is totally wrong.

Thanks again.

The Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour gives him as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant (Aviation Branch), Observer, No.784 Sqn, HMS Nighthawk. I’ve found him in the April 1945 Navy List as a Temporary Midshipman (A), seniority 13th Jan 45 (its in section 1581 if anyone’s interested). His name is spelt Philip in there. In the index for the July edition (correct to 30th June 1945 according to the note on the cover) he is still listed as Msm (A).

Ray Sturtivant’s book FAA Aircraft 39-45 identifies it as Firefly FR 1 MB447 of 784 Sq, Drem. 7/8/45, night flying GCI exercise, crashed on hillside near Garvald, E Lothian killing Sub Lt JD Marshall and Midshipman PL Steele. Note different rank from yours but there is so much detail in this book that it may be an error.

I’ve got Sub Lt (A) Owen B Norwood on this date, killed in Hellcat Mk.II JX966 at Brothershiels to the SE of Dalkeith, nothing for Steele though. The Glasgow Herald has an entry on the 9th about this crash, but without naming the pilot, just the location.