Chesterfield war hero shot down planes during the Battle of Britain

Paul Allonby was undertaking military research when he discovered that pilot officer John ‘Polly’ Flinders – who took part in the destruction of five German aircraft during World War Two – had lived around the corner from him in Old Whittington.

Born in 1917 and educated at Chesterfield Grammar School, John had joined the Royal Air Force in January 1936 and trained as a fighter pilot.

Researcher Paul said: “His first combat experience came in November 1939 when his unit intercepted and badly damaged a Dornier 17 Luftwaffe bomber off Southend, Kent, when he was serving with 74 squadron flying Spitfires.

"In January 1940, he switched to Hurricanes with 32 squadron as a training officer, mentoring fledgling pilots.

"It was with 32 squadron that he was engaged in life-or-death combat during the Battle of France in May to June 1940, when the Germans launched their land invasion.

"He brought down a Heinkel 111 on May 18 over Arras, and destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 fighter in the same sector the next day.”

Later that month, the pilot was himself shot down when his fighter was struck by anti-aircraft fire.

John managed to crash land and with the help of French soldiers, made his way to Calais where he was evacuated back to the UK.

Paul added: “In the interim, though, his family in Newbridge Lane had received a telegram saying he was ‘’missing believed killed’.

"It was to their utter delight he turned up on the doorstep of their bungalow, where he enjoyed a brief couple of days respite before being pitched back into the fray.”

John returned to the war and shot down many more planes during the Battle of Britain.

Paul said: “After the battle, he spent the rest of the war serving as a flying instructor in the UK and in Canada, before working as a test pilot and rising to the rank of squadron leader. He remained with the RAF until 1953.”