Albert Leslie Furr
The South Notts Echo of 11 Sept 1943 says he was a telegraph boy at the Post Office after leaving school. Later he worked on the Railway and finally became an Insurance Agent, which is when he joined the services.
In 1931 when he married he gave his occupation as Railway Porter.
In the RAF by 1939, 744929 Redhill, Arnold
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Son of Herbert and Mary Furr he was born in 1909 at Letchworth, Hertfordshire, the youngest of three sons. By 1921 the family had moved to Nottinghamshire and were living at 25 Bailey St, Netherfield, also known locally as Loco Town. Both Herbert and his eldest son Herbert Charles worked for the Great Northern Railway.
The South Notts Echo of 11 Sept 1943 states that he was educated at Chandos St School in Netherfield.
On 26 September 1931 he married Olive May Barlow at the parish church of Blackwell, Derbyshire, where they were both livig at the time.
By 1939 they are both living at 13 Freemans Terrace, Carlton, alog with their only child a son Peter born 1933.
Olive later emigrated to Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia where she died in 1972.
The South Notts Echo of 11 Sept 1943 had an artice about Albert. It congratulated him on being promoted to Fight Lieutenant and said that he was the first man to volunteer for Calrton RAFVR. He volunteered in MArch 1939 and was called to the colours September 1st, two days before war broke out. He trained for air crew duties and became an air gunner. In the summer of 1940 he gained his sergeants stripes. He was connected with Coastal Command and flew with several well known pilots. His duties took him from the Bay of Biscay to Ireland. The whole Squadron was transferred to Iceland last May. They were based at Reykjavik.
On 4 Oct 1943, 120 Squadron were to support a number of convoys. Liberator FL923 was escorting convoy ON204 when they spotted a U boat (U539) on the surface. The Liberator went into the attack and the U boat commander decided to remain on the surface and fight it out. German records provided the details of the attack.
The plane was spotted when 7-8000 metres away and all flak guns opened fire. The Liberator replied with cannon fire, and although hit several times, pressed home the attack and dropped 6 depth charges just ahead of the U boat which was shaken violently. Both pf the planes starboard engines were seen to catch fire and shortly afterwards it came down in the sea, exploding on impact with the water.
All the crew were killed
W/C RM Longmore OBE Pilot
F/O RW Tait 2nd pilot
F/O RM Webber 3rd pilot
F/L N Bruce Navigator
F/S AE Parsons Engineer
F/L AL Furr AG/Sig
W/O EA Minchem 2/WOP/AG
W/O W Stott 3/WO/AG
Commemorated on the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Panel 119.
Unknown
Photo of Albert Leslie Furr