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Geoffrey Allard
No Photo Available
Victories : 23.8
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Country : UK
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Allied
Died : 13th March 1941
 |  | | Distinguished
Flying Cross | Distinguished
Flying Medal | Bar to the
Distinguished
Flying Medal |
Born 1912, "Sammy" Allard joined the RAF in 1929, training to be a pilot in the late 1930s, before joining No.87 Sqn, but transferred to No.85 Sqn soon after. Flying Hurricanes in the Battle of France, Allard racked up 8 victories, and added another 8 during the Battle of Britain, before 85 squadron became a night-fighting unit. Sammy Allard was piloting a Havoc aircraft on 13th March 1941 when a small panel displodged and jammed the rudder, causing the plane to crash, and killing all on board, including New Zealand Ace William Hodgson. Allard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, which does not appear in the London Gazette, to our knowledge, a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal, gazetted on 13th September 1940, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted on 8th October 1940. Citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross :
Between 30th August and ist September, 1940, this officer destroyed seven enemy aircraft; previously he had destroyed ten and shared in the destruction of others. He has displayed outstanding skill and courage in combat against the enemy.
Combat Reports
Personal combat reports from this pilot.
10th May 1940 05.00 hrs, A Flight, 85 Squadron. One HeIII K at a height of 14000 to 18000 feet, over Armentieres.
Patrolling north of Lille, saw enemy aircraft over Armentieres. Closed with enemy aircraft, he immediately opened fire with tracers from rear gun. I opened fire at 300 yards range diving down on him. I continued to close until a cloud of black smoke and oil covered my aircraft. Saw him go down in steep spiral and was about to follow when I saw another fighter engage him. I broke off the engagement near Ypres.
10th May 1940 14.45 hrs, A Flight, 85 Squadron. One HeIII at a height of 7000 feet over Carvin.
Returning from Vimy on a north east course when saw HeIII K on left. Climbed into sun to 8000 feet and aligned quarter attack. First burst registered so attacked from other quarter. Each time I closed to within 50 yards. Line astern attack from 300 yards. As I closed, enemy aircraft dived into ground in flames one mile of Gondecourt. Verified by P/O Martin nothin of enemy aircraft remains.
10th May 1940 20.35 hrs, A Flight, 85 Squadron. Two HeIIIs at a height of 10000 feet, south of Cambrai.
Ordered to take off 20.15 hrs. As Red leader, I took off with Red 2 and climbed up to the enemy at 10,000 feet. When in position I attacked the right hand aircraft and Red 2 the left hand. We closed the attack to 50 yards approximately. I found it essential to break away upwards and in front. I then delivered an attack from the quarter, and saw that both aircraft were losing oil, and black smoke came from the engines. I carried on the attack after Red 2 ran out of ammunition, and before breaking away, saw both aircraft losing height. The undercarriage of the port enemy aircraft was hanging down.
8th July 1940 10.23 hrs, A Flight, 85 Squadron. One HeIII at a height of 8000 feet, ten miles south east of Felixstowe.
I took off from Martlesham at 10.08 hrs to patrol. After 2 minutes I approached enemy aircraft heading east. In closing the attack, the rear gunner of the enemy aircraft opened fire. I positioned myself for attack and dropped down from 8,000 feet to 7,000 feet. I delivered a line astern attack and fired two bursts of three seconds, following the enemy aircraft down through the cloud to 3,000 feet. At this height I met the enemy aircraft in a diving position. As I came through the clouds a few seconds later I noticed a line of oil on the surface of the water, but there was no sign of the enemy aircraft. Returned to Martlesham at 10.47 hrs.
30th July 1940 15.30 hrs, A Flight, 85 Squadron. Two Me110 at a low level, 40 miles off the coast.
I was with Red section as No.2 on our way to patrol when I saw anti-aircraft fire from a trawler behind the convoy. I heard Red 1 Tally Ho and followed him in line astern. I saw two Me110s about two miles ahead flying north at low level. Enemy aircraft turned east ahead of convoy and I closed convoy to intercept. I saw Red 1 carry out two attacks from astern. After the second attack he broke away and I closed in to about 150 yards firing continuously to about 25 yards. I saw the starboard motor break into pieces and the enemy aircraft disappeared beneath me. I saw enemy tracer, but received no hits. After I broke away I chased the second Me110 which disappeared into low cloud. I reformed with Red 1 and returned to base.
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