No.100795, Pilot Officer, George William PAYTON
Aged 20
medals not known
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Lost at Sea on Tuesday, 19th August 1941
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George William Payton was born on 1st April 1921 in Ely (Ely Q3-1921 3B:899), son of George Robertson and Elsie May PAYTON (née GOOCH ). They were living in Ely. George was at Soham Grammar School from 1931 to 1937. In the 1939 register the family were at 5 Victoria Square, Ely. George was a reporter on the local weekly paper, father George R [16-7-1894] was a brewer's labourer; mother [9-4-1896]. Also there was Albert E MOSS[26-11-1899] a builder's labourer. |
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He was a passenger on SS"Aguila" bound from Liverpool (13th August) to Gibraltar (Convoy OG71) when it was torpedoed by U-201. The wolf pack of U-boats sunk 8 of the 23 merchant ships and 2 escorts.The Aquila was a general cargo ship but was carrying around 86 Royal Navy personnel (including 22 WRNS). It does appear though that 11 of the passenger were actually RAF personnel. The main interest in any report concentrates on the deaths of the 22 W.R.N.S. women. His commission was only gazetted in August 1st 1941 (seniority from 12th June 1941). Currently no record of which squadron he may have been going to join, or whether he was qualified as aircrew. |
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