Flying Officer Stanley Maurice Austin of Derry~Londonderry served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve flying Spitfires in the Tunisia in February 1943.
Flying Officer
113412
Flying Officer Stanley Maurice Austin (113412) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He was the son of Glover E. Austin and Mary C. Austin of Derry~Londonderry.
In civilian life, Stanley studied law at Queen’s University, Belfast. The school of law at the university continues to administer the Stanley Maurice Austin Prize, an award of funding to an undergraduate student each year.
Between 18th June 1941 and 31st October 1941, Leading Aircraftman Austin trained on No. 4 Course at Falcon Field, Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, U.S.A. He graduated as a Pilot Officer, promoted to Sergeant on 1st November 1941. The young sergeant joined R.A.F. 243 Squadron , promoted to Flying Officer on 1st October 1941. By 1943, he was at “Paddington”, Souk-el-Khemis, Tunisia.
Flying Officer Austin died on 3rd February 1943 aged 20 years old while serving in R.A.F. 243 Squadron. He was the pilot of Supermarine Spitfire Mark Vc EE770 providing an escort for a daytime bombing raid. His grave is in Section V, Row E, Grave 20 of Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia. Austin’s name is on the Queen’s University War Memorial, Belfast. His headstone in Tunisia bears the inscription:
Dearly loved by his mother and father, Mary and Glover Austin of Londonderry.