Pilot Officer Oswald Pigg

Pilot Officer Oswald ( “Ossie” ) St. John Pigg, Royal Air Force. He was killed in action on 1st September 1940 during the Battle of Britain, aged 22, whilst flying with 72 ( Basutoland ) Squadron, Royal Air Force. He was the son of the Rev. John James and Mabel Tyson Pigg of Chatton Vicarage and is buried in Durham ( St. Oswald’s ) Burial Ground. He was educated at Newcastle Grammar School and joined the R.A.F. in March 1937. During the early part of the War he served at Church Fenton and Acklington where he shot down two enemy aircraft  before moving to Biggin Hill on 31st August 1940 flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1. On 1st September at 10.50 the Squadron took off to intercept a large enemy raid. He was shot down at about 11.15 over Pluckley, Kent by a BF109 and crashed into a paddock at Elvey Farm where there is now a Memorial Plaque to him.