RAF Stradishall

The Ops Officers’ log records that at 1120, ‘One Lysander, F/O Lee-Knight 419 Sqd circuits 1130-1230 hrs.’

This may be Roland Anthony Lee-Knight (37772). He has been with No. 23 Squadron, which in 1940 is a night-fighter squadron equipped with the Blenheim. This is the early period of radar-assisted Airborne Interception (AI) — that is, if 29 Squadron is equipped with the still-experimental sets. This entry suggests that Lee-Knight was briefly posted to 419 Flight. (No. 419 Squadron, a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron, is not formed until December 1941.)

In December 1940 Tony Lee-Knight is posted to No. 145 Squadron, then again a month later to No. 91 Squadron as a Flight Commander. Between March and September 1941, serving in Nos 91, 610 and 413 Squadrons, he is credited with 5 victories + 1 shared, 3 probables, 3 damaged, and one destroyed on the ground. On 27 September Sqn Ldr Lee-Knight is killed while on a ‘sweep’ over northern France. He is 24 years old.

Sources

Shores, Aces High, Vol. 2, p. 395.