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John Stafford

Name : John Stafford Air Victories : 5.00 Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross

Jack Stafford left New Zealand for the UK in 1943 and was assigned to Hurricanes with OTU at Annan before being posted to No.486 Squadron in November 1943 as a Sergeant Pilot. Based at Tangmere flying the Hawker Typhoon, No.486 Sqn was engaged in dive-bombing and ground attack operations over Europe in preparation for D-Day the following year. In April 1944 after a brief hiatus with de Havilland, Stafford returned to action and was credited with eight V-1s destroyed between 19th June and 29th August. He was promoted to Warrant Officer and commissioned the following month. Stafford was involved with covering the airborne invasion to capture the Arnhem and Nijmegan Bridges before the squadron moved to Grimbergen in Belgium. After No.486 Sqn moved to Volkel in Holland, Stafford and Flying Officer Bremner were credited with the first confirmed Me262 for the squadron on Christmas Day 1944. Jack was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in February 1945 and made Flight Commander of A Flight. On 12th April Stafford shot down and Fw190D-9 east of Ludwigslust, his last of the war. On 15th May he was posted to No.80 Sqn at Fassberg before moving to Copenhagen. His final tally was 2 confirmed kills, 3 shared and 8 V-1 rockets destroyed. Jack received the DFC and left the RNZAF in April of 1946.

Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew

Knight's Realm by Brian Bateman.

Known Victory Claims :
Date	Rank	Squadron	Claimed	Location	Time	Aircraft Flown	Notes
19/06/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details				Rocket. Flying Tempest JN805
20/06/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details				Rocket. Flying Tempest JN811
22/06/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details	NE of Battle			Rocket. Flying Tempest JN803
30/06/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details				Rocket. Flying Tempest JN801
04/07/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details	Hailsham			Rocket. Flying Tempest JN854
04/07/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details	Tonbridge			Rocket. Flying Tempest JN854
26/07/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details	N of Hastings			Rocket. Flying Tempest JN803
29/08/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	V-1 details	N of Tonbridge			Rocket. Flying Tempest JN803
25/12/1944	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	Me262 details	Aachen			Half shared victory. Flying Tempest EJ625.
23/01/1945	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	Me109 details	Rheine			Half shared victory. Flying Tempest EJ706.
02/02/1945	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	Do217 details	S Paderborn			Third shared victory. Flying Tempest EJ523.
22/02/1945	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	Me109 details	S Munster			Flying Tempest NV791 (SA-L)
12/04/1945	Flight Lieutenant	No.486 Sqn RAF	Fw190D details	E Ludwigslust			Flying Tempest SN129 (SA-M)

Aircraft for : John Stafford
A list of all aircraft associated with John Stafford. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Hurricane Click the name above to see prints featuring Hurricane aircraft. Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533	Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built.
Typhoon Click the name above to see prints featuring Typhoon aircraft. Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1941 Number Built : 3330	Typhoon Single engine fighter with a maximum speed of 412 mph at 19,000 feet and a ceiling of 35,200 feet. range 510 miles. The Typhoon was armed with twelve browning .303inch machine guns in the wings (MK1A) Four 20mm Hispano cannon in wings (MK!B) Two 1000ilb bombs or eight 3-inch rockets under wings. The first proto type flew in February 1940, but due to production problems the first production model flew in May 1941. with The Royal Air Force receiving their first aircraft in September 1941. Due to accidents due to engine problems (Sabre engine) The Hawker Typhoon started front line service in December 1941.The Hawker Typhoon started life in the role of interceptor around the cost of England but soon found its real role as a ground attack aircraft. especially with its 20mm cannon and rockets. This role was proved during the Normandy landings and the period after. The total number of Hawker typhoons built was 3,330.