Flying Officer - Royal Air Force Vulunteer Reserves - 108 Squadron - Service Number 108051
Douglas Alfred Pascoe was born on 21st July 1917 in Gravesend, Kent. His father was William Pascoe, an Estate Agent, and his mother was Alice (née Gunn). The first school that he attended was Cecil Road School in Gravesend.
In 1928 Douglas Pascoe joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Douglas’ address as 45 Kent Road, Gravesend. Whilst at the School, Douglas was in Town House and he played for the 1st XI Cricket Team in 1934. One older brother, William (born 1911) and one younger brother, Reginald (born 1929) also attended the School. William was a Flight Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves in World War Two and Reginald was a Sergeant Pilot. Reginald was killed in action on 11th June 1941.
In 1934 Douglas left the School and started work as a Clerk at the Empire Paper Mills. In May 1940 he volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves and was sent to train in Canada. He joined 108 Squadron as a Flying Officer, Service Number 108051.
Douglas flew Beaufighters on night patrols over Egypt, Libya and Malta, taking part in 45 operational flights. On 13th July 1942, Douglas Pascoe died from injuries when he crashed on landing, whilst delivering supplies to a new airfield under construction in Palestine. He was 24 years old. He is remembered at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Douglas Pascoe was in the same Form as fellow student Stanley Rouse, who was also Killed in Action in World War Two.
There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2220203/pascoe,-douglas-alfred/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=101352