Page's record, as of now. Still in progress, of course.
668492, PAGE, R.J. Page 1 of 4
RECORD OF PERSONNEL - CONFIDENTIAL
for Air Ministry internal use ONLY
Photo (200px)
Name: PAGE, Robert John Service Number: 668492
Date of Birth: 5th October 19 15 Place of Birth: Dover, Kent
Gender: Male Height: 5 ft. 11in. Weight: 11 st. 1 lb.
Choose: Male, Female Round to nearest inch Round to nearest pound
Hair: Brown (light) Eyes: Blue
Note details and variations in shade/colour in parentheses
Nationality: British subject (United Kingdom)
Permanent Residence: On base (RAF Tempsford)
Marital Status: Single, Unmarried No. of Dependents, [No. of Dependent Minors]: 0 , [ 0 ]
Choose: Single unmarried, Single divorced, Married, Widower/Widowed
Addendum & Erratum: Distinguishing mark: scar on back of neck due to off-duty injury
Note: hair color can seemingly shift from light brown to blonde depending on lighting conditions
Date of Enlistment: 5 October 19 33
Place of Enlistment: Dover, Kent
Branch: Regular RAF, transferred with squadron to SOE
Choose: Regular R.A.F., Auxiliary, Women's Auxiliary, Volunteer Reserve, Medical Services, P.M.R.A.F.N.S., Other (list details)
Rank & Date of Seniority: Acting Pilot Officer, 6th October 1933; Pilot Officer, 3rd November 1933;
Flying Officer, 9th April 1934; Flight Lieutenant, 3rd December, 1936; Captain/Squadron Leader, 17th August 1939
Date of Separation: - - 19 -
Reason for Separation: -
Choose: Expiration of enlistment term, Retirement, General demobilization, Hardship/Medical grounds, Disciplinary action,
Resignation of commission, Other (list details)
668492 PAGE, R.J. Page 2 of 4
UNIT POSTINGS:
No. 5 Flight Training School, 6th October 1933; No. 19 Squadron (RAF Duxford), 11th March 1934;
No. 84 Squadron (RAF Shaibah), 28th July 1935, No. 19 Squadron, (RAF Duxford), 3rd March 1936,
Royal Air Force College Cranwell, 19th April, 1936, No. 19 Squadron, (RAF Duxford), 3rd December 1936*,
No. 19 Squadron, (RAF Duxford), 1st February 1939, No. 319 Squadron (RAF Manston Heath),
15th September, 1939; No 319 Squadron (RAF/SOE Tempsford), 5th June, 1940
* Commission assigned but never completed due to nonrenewal of enlistment - see miscellaneous notes
AWARDS, DECORATIONS, HONOURS, ETC.:
Pilot Brevet, 10th March 1934; Order of the Spanish Republic, May 16th, 1937*; Medal of the
International Brigades, October 2nd 1937*; Laureate Plate of Madrid, July 3rd, 1938*,
Mentioned in Dispatches, October 4th, 1939; Order of Polonia Restutita, October 10th, 1939*;
Air Force Medal, December 27th, 1939; Distinguished Flying Medal, June 7th, 1940; Conspicuous
Gallantry Medal, September 1st, 1940
*Medals awarded in foreign service or from foreign sources
DISCIPLINARY RECORD:
- 14th July, 1935: Official complaint lodged by members of No. 7 Bombing Squadron against CPT. PAGE.
Complaint alleged that in the aftermath of the Silver Jubilee Aerial Review at RAF Duxford, CPT. PAGE confronted
four members of No. 7 Squadron and proceeded to physically attack them, leaving two of the aforementioned
members seriously injured. Complaint referred to R.A.F Police Flight, Duxford for investigation. Complaint
dismissed upon the submission of multiple eyewitness accounts suggesting the aforementioned No. 7
Squadron members had deliberately antagonized CPT. PAGE, and one of them had actually thrown the
first punch. As the case was now one of self-defense, charges were dropped.
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS:
- Basic/combat flight training: No. 5 Flight Training School (single and twin-engined aircraft).
- Confirmed accredited for carrier/water landings and takeoffs.
- Type qualifications: de Havilland TIGER MOTH (30th December, 1933), Bristol BULLDOG
(14th February, 1934), Gloster GAUNTLET (25th April, 1934), Lockheed ELECTRA (2nd September, 1934)
Westland WAPITI (6th October, 1935), Hawker HURRICANE (11th May, 1936) Polikarpov I-16* (5th February, 1937),
Supermarine SPITFIRE (9th March, 1939), Messerschmitt ME109-E** (24th October, 1939),
Junkers JU52** (10th January, 1940), Bristol BLENHEIM (15th February, 1940), Vickers WELLINGTON
(13th March, 1940), Consolidated CATALINA (15th April, 1940)
- Demonstrated aptitude with navigation skills, gunnery, leadership skills, general aircraft maintenance, low-level flying,
and assorted ground combat skills and abilities
- * Accreditation confirmed based on experience with such aircraft in Spanish Civil War
- **Training done on captured enemy examples
668492 PAGE, R.J. Page 3 of 4
SERVICE RECORD:
- 5 October, 1933: Enlisted into R.A.F. at Dover, Kent; posted to No. 5 Flying Training School with rank of Acting
Pilot Officer, effective 6th October 1933.
- 10 March, 1934: Passed basic and combat flight training, awarded Pilot Brevet; posted to No. 19 Fighter Squadron
with rank of Pilot Officer, effective 11 March 1934.
- 14 July, 1935: Complaint against CPT. PAGE registered for assaulting a fellow officer, ultimately dismissed - see
disciplinary record.
- 28 July, 1935: Promoted to Flying Officer and transferred to No. 84 Squadron, effective 29 July, 1935.
- 2 March, 1936: Transferred to No. 19 Squadron, effective 3 March, 1936.
- 18 April, 1936: Application to RAF College Cranwell for officership courses accepted, transfer effective
19 April, 1936.
- 3 December 1936: Promoted to Flight Lieutenant upon completion of officership courses; transferred
to No. 19 Squadron.
- 16th December, 1936: CPT. PAGE's enlistment status not reconfirmed; active status terminated.
- *Note: CPT. PAGE's service in the Spanish Civil War with the Fuerza Aerea de la Republica Espanola
occurred during this time. No accurate records exist for CPT. PAGE's activities during this service, due
to the unavailability, destruction, or simple lack of adequate Spanish records. When questioned,
CPT. PAGE claims to have been responsible for no less than 14 kills in aerial combat, which would place him
amongst the highest-scoring aces in the Spanish Civil War. Interviews with surviving members of "Cazador"
Squadron seem to roughly corroborate these numbers, although no interview subject could vouch for
more than a handful of kills. CPT. PAGE's ground operations with the so-called "Navarre Liberation Front"
are even less well attested, and as there was no possibility of independent corroboration, the interview
results with CPT. PAGE will not be reported here, instead being located in "Miscellaneous Notes".
- 11 November 1938: CPT. PAGE submits re-enlistment request to RAF. Request is accepted, with
full reinstatement of Flight Lieutenant rank and transfer to No. 19 Squadron.
- 4 January 1939: On a routine patrol flight, CPT. PAGE and wingman F/O AYRTON report making contact with
a pair of twin-engine aircraft approx. 20 miles E of Scarborough. Contacts identified as DORNIER
DO-17 recon aircraft, and were non-responsive to radio communications. After a high-speed pass
by CPT. PAGE, both aircraft fled the scene at high speed. Incident attributed at the time as German
planes being off course; in retrospect, more likely a test of British air defenses.
- 17 August, 1939: CPT. PAGE promoted to Squadron Leader rank, pending transfer to squadron command position,
continues as active member of No. 19 Squadron.
- 3 September, 1939: No. 19 Squadron scrambled due to air raid alert for London upon declaration of war. No enemy contacts visible.
- 4 September, 1939: First letter sent to CIGS by First Sea Lord Winston Churchill, envisioning an
international combined ground-air operations squadron.
- 8 September, 1939: Second letter sent, CPT. PAGE mentioned by name as possible leadership
choice for such a group. The name "Excalibur" is suggested for the squadron, as well as the unused
squadron number 319.
- 9 September, 1939: CIGS replies, confirming that the RAF will oblige and create such a squadron,
with CPT. PAGE the first choice for leadership candidate.
- 15 September, 1939: No. 319 Squadron officially registered as an active squadron.
- 27th September, 1939: CPT. PAGE and squadron members officially transferred to
No. 319 Squadron. Transfer is concurrent
with the assignment of Operation LANCER. PAGE also assigned rank of Captain due to integrated ground/air assignments.
- 30 September, 1939 - 3rd October, 1939: Operation LANCER is carried out by No.319 Squadron under
the command of CPT. PAGE, with the objective of freeing the imprisoned Polish General Wladyslaw Sikorski
from the Stutthof prison camp,
near Danzig. Operation carried out in conjunction with RN vessel HMS Trident, used for insertion
of the squadron, as well as with the cooperation of elements of the Swedish Air Force and government
in allowing No.319 Squadron landing privileges inside Swedish territory. Operational objectives achieved
with no friendly loss of life.
AERIAL VICTORIES CLAIMED: (1); i.: Messerschmitt Bf 110 - destroyed, over Baltic Sea by automatic gunfire from JU 52
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DESTROYED: (1); confirmed by eyewitnesses
CLAIMS PROBABLY DESTROYED: none
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DAMAGED: none
CLAIMS UNSUBSTANTIATED: none
- 10 November, 1939 - 23 December, 1939 - CPT. PAGE leads No.319 Squadron for the duration of OPERATION
FALKLAND, the hunt for the KMS GRAF SPEE in the South Atlantic. Using HMS GLORIOUS and her task force as
the base of operations, CPT. PAGE and Excalibur Squadron successfully pursued and damaged the SPEE, forcing
it to take shelter in the roadstead of the port of Montevideo, Uruguay. No.319 Squadron also sunk an unknown
German ship accompanying the SPEE during the operation, which according to Naval Intelligence, may have been
a German aircraft carrier converted from the transport ship EUROPA. Several German aircraft launched from
this mystery ship were also destroyed in aerial combat with No.319 Squadron, several by CPT. PAGE. In the
aftermath of the SPEE's arrival in Montevideo, CPT. PAGE and No.319 Squadron were authorized by the Office of
the Air Marshal* to pursue and destroy the SPEE in Montevideo harbor via sabotage, before it could flee and
attempt a breakout. This phase of the mission was successful, and the SPEE was destroyed before it could
depart the roadstead.
AERIAL VICTORIES CLAIMED: (5); i.ii.iii.iv.v: Messerschmitt Bf 109s - engaged over South Atlantic
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DESTROYED: (2); confirmed by eyewitnesses/gun camera footage
CLAIMS PROBABLY DESTROYED: none
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DAMAGED: (2); confirmed by gun-camera footage
CLAIMS UNSUBSTANTIATED: (1); unconfirmed
TOTAL AERIAL VICTORIES TO DATE: (6) destroyed, (0) probable, (2) damaged, (1) unsubstantiated
(Note: CPT. PAGE also has cause to claim this German "mystery carrier" as a kill, judging from gun-camera footage
and descriptions of the sinking from Excalibur pilots)
* For further details, see the disciplinary record of RAF Personnel File #752895.
- 2 January 1940 - April 2nd, 1940: Due to lull in combat operations, CPT. PAGE, with permission from RAF, initiates "Multirole"
training project, centered around training No. 319 Squadron members on as many different types of aircraft as possible, in order
to improve overall combat ability. Training program involves temporary and permanent reassignment of several Swordfish, Fulmar,
Wellington, Blenheim, Defiant, and other aircraft to Excalibur. Program is regarded as a success - despite "crash-course" scheduling,
many squadron members have been verified as proficient on the new aircraft.
- 1 June, 1940 - 5 June, 1940: CPT. PAGE leads No. 319 Squadron for the duration of Operation GUILLOTINE, the objective being the
identification and destruction of a German/fascist French subversion cell believed to be operating in the vicinity of Paris, attempting to gain control of the French Marin and potentially the French government as well.
As the control of said fleet (including one aircraft carrier, several advanced battleships, multiple cruisers, and several dozen
destroyers and submarines) was extraordinarily critical to the outcome of the war, No. 319 Squadron was deployed to Paris to
ensure it didn't fall into enemy hands. As it was feared the French government may have been compromised by pro-German forces,
the Third Republic was not informed. En route, Excalibur was diverted to Dunkirk, where they were assigned to cover a small convoy of
hospital ships outbound from the harbor from dive-bomber attack. The convoy successfully returned to Portsmouth without losses, however,
F/LT. MCARVON was confirmed KIA in the battle.
Upon arriving in Paris shortly thereafter, CPT. PAGE and No. 319 Squadron made hostile contact with several German operatives in
the city, unearthing evidence that in addition to German infiltration of the city itself, several battalions of the French Army stationed
nearby and near the French naval base at Toulon had been effectively taken over by right-wing French collaborators. It is believed that
the German infiltrators in Paris intended to work with their sympathizers to seize the city, and use the Eiffel Tower's radio broadcasting
capabilities to coordinate this move with the seizure of the ships at Toulon. This plot was foiled after Excalibur's neutralizing of an SS
infiltration team in actual broadcasting room of the Eiffel Tower, destroying the equipment necessary to convey the ship-seizure order.
This led to the successful evacuation of the French Fleet from Toulon, keeping them out of German hands, at least temporarily.
Upon Excalibur's return to Britain (and synchronous with their transfer to SOE command RAF/SOE Tempsford from RAF Manston Heath),
CPT. PAGE submitted an extremely unorthodox request to have CMPN./CMDR NOBLE of the WRAF instituted as a full combat
member of the squadron. This request was based upon the already prominent role CMPN./CMDR NOBLE had taken in the
planning and execution of Excalibur operations as one of AIR/MSHL. NEWALL's staff aides, which was compounded by her
commendable actions in combat during the Paris incursion. As such, the request was approved (see the Service Record
of RAF Personnel File #752895).
AERIAL VICTORIES CLAIMED: i.ii.iii. Heinkel HE100s (engaged over Dunkirk), iv.v. Messerschmitt ME109s (engaged
over Dunkirk), vi.vii. JU87 Stukas (engaged over Dunkirk),
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DESTROYED: 7 (confirmed by gun-camera footage and eyewitnesses)
CLAIMS PROBABLY DESTROYED: None
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DAMAGED: None
CLAIMS UNSUBSTANTIATED: None
TOTAL AERIAL VICTORIES TO DATE: (13) destroyed, (0) probable, (2) damaged, (1) unsubstantiated
- 30 June, 1940: CPT. PAGE leads Excalibur on a rescure operation as a coda to Operation GUILLOTINE.
During the mission, F./O. CLAYTON fell behind and was assumed dead, however, information soon arose
that an RAF pilot matching CLAYTON's description had been found badly wounded in the aftermath of the
Paris firefight, and was to be sent back to Germany for internment. The operation, utilizing CPT. PAGE and
F./LT. NOBLE as disguised German pilots (in addition to the JU52 captured during OPERATION LANCER), was
a total success - F./O./ CLAYTON was successfully rescued and returned to RAF/SOE Tempsford. However,
the JU52 was destroyed on landing, effectively writing it off.
- 13 August, 1940: CPT. PAGE and Excalibur Squadron are assigned to undertake Operation MORDRED,
a reconnaissance mission to the port of Calais and the surrounding environs in order to scout out the
German preparations for the invasion of Britain. However, the operation is scrapped after the commencement
of Luftwaffe aerial bombing on British soil that same day (labelled "Adlertag", by the Luftwaffe). CPT. PAGE
and Excalibur were diverted to intercepting a massive German bomber stream over London, which was
successfully halted, with massive German losses.
AERIAL VICTORIES CLAIMED: i.ii.iii: JU87 Stukas engaged over RAF/SOE Tempsford. iv: ME109 engaged over RAF
Tempsford. v.vi.vii.ix.x: JU88s engaged over London. xi.xii, xii: ME109s over London. xiv: ME110 over London. xv, xvi: DO17s
engaged over London.
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DESTROYED: 15 (confirmed by gun-camera footage)
CLAIMS PROBABLY DESTROYED: None
CLAIMS CONFIRMED DAMAGED: 1 (confirmed by gun-camera footage)
CLAIMS UNSUBSTANTIATED: None
TOTAL AERIAL VICTORIES TO DATE: (28) destroyed, (0) probable, (3) damaged, (1) unsubstantiated
- 19 August, 1940: Prime Minister Churchill arrives at RAF Tempsford to congratulate and decorate No. 319
(Excalibur) Squadron personally. However, the function was disrupted by the arrival of a team of SS commandos
arriving in captured Wellington bombers (believed to have been abandoned in France during Operation DYNAMO),
with their intent likely being to neutralize the PM in some way. CPT. Page leads Excalibur through the defense of
the airfield, culminating with the annihilation of the SS force. Its commander is taken into custody.
668492 PAGE, R.J. Page 4 of 4
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
- Notes on enlistment status: CPT. PAGE was not in RAF enlisted service from 16th December 1936 to
November 17th, 1938, due to the expiration and nonrenewal of his enlistment term. This has not been noted
on this form for reasons of continuity and simplicity due to his re-enlistment in 1938, and due to the fact
that his lapse of service was made explicitly clear to be temporary, pending his return from foreign service.
- Notes on foreign air service: During this time, CPT. PAGE served in the Republican Internationalist Brigades
in the Spanish Civil War as a fighter pilot, serving in the 1st Fighter Squadron attached to the so-called
"British Battalion". According to interviewed sources and intelligence reports, CPT. PAGE served with
notable valor and skill against Nationalist forces, recording several enemy kills and temporarily leading
the squadron in battle. During this campaign, records note that CPT. PAGE was shot down by ground
fire on 19/4/37, during the so-called "War In The North" in the areas of the Basque Country and Bilbao.
- Notes on foreign ground service: CPT. PAGE, after the same crash as noted above, was also involved
in Republican (and Republican-aligned) ground campaigns. He was rescued from his crash site by a
Republican-affiliated partisan group, who then escaped the Northern combat zone in an attempt to
flee Nationalist forces in the area. Upon their return to Republican-controlled territory, CPT. PAGE
returned to his squadron, only to discover that they were now crucially short of planes, and that
he would be unable to return to flying service in the foreseeable future. CPT. PAGE then endeavored
to rejoin his partisan allies to fight with them in various campaigns across Spain, until said group
was contacted by the Internationalist Brigades in approx. February 1938 in an attempt to get CPT.
PAGE to return to active squadron service. CPT. PAGE did respond, and served with the 1st Squadron
in a flying capacity again until the dissolution of the Internationalist brigades in October of 1938.
- Observations on physical health (20/8/39) - it is apparent that CPT. PAGE has suffered no lingering
aftereffects of his crash in Spain. According to the CPT.'s own recollections (as no records exist from
the crash),his injuries were mostly limited to cuts and lacerations, although he did suffer several
broken ribs in the crash and the immediate aftermath. His recovery from such injuries, however,
seems to have been complete. In summation, CPT. PAGE is entirely fit for full combat service,
on the air or on the ground, in the opinion of this office.
- Observations on personality (21/8/39) - CPT. PAGE has been described by fellow pilots and officers
as an intelligent, reasonable, and capable officer, as well as a man not afraid to go amongst the men
and join them for typical off-duty merrymaking. In his off hours, he's known to favor reading
(primarily historical books and texts), maintaining and tinkering with his aircraft on a level
described by his colleagues as "near-compulsive", and partaking in said merrymaking with
friends. He doesn't drink to excess, although he does smoke.
It is apparent also that he has made some enemies in his career, namely amongst
bomber squadrons he's served alongside (refer to disciplinary record for prime example), and also
among higher elements in command, likely resulting from various repeated lobbying efforts
by CPT. PAGE for more RAF attention to Fighter Command. This likely also accounts for his
near-inexplicable transfer to the RAF Shaibah station for almost a year.
There are also accounts from several of his peers that occasionally, CPT. PAGE will be
struck with severe melancholy for hours at a time. While this doesn't visibly impede the
execution of his duties, it usually does entail social withdrawal. When asked for the particular
cause of this lachrymosity, the only answer ever given was that he was "thinking about Spain".
We believe that this is likely due to the unsuccessful conclusion of the war for his side,
and anticipate this particular element of CPT. PAGE's psychological makeup will likely
fade with time. When prompted to elaborate about his Spanish experience, he gave
away nothing that would indicate he was suffering from combat fatigue, "shell-shock", or
undue stress as a direct result of his service. Aside from this single example, CPT. PAGE seems
remarkably well-adjusted as a pilot and as an officer.
- After due consideration, CPT. PAGE has been put forward as a possible
leadership candidate for the First Sea Lord's Excalibur Squadron project.
- I want this one. He's got the skills, the experience, and he's clearly not afraid to make a fight - W.C.