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Sawyer, Henry Cecil(Entry 1-33)Sawyer was educated at Dover College and entered Cranwell in January 1933.Upon graduating in December 1934, Sawyer was posted to No. 142 Squadron at Andover. As a junior pilot, he honed his flying under operational conditions, mastering formation-flying and aerial tactics. Two years later, his technical acumen earned him a staff appointment at the Electrical and Wireless School back at Cranwell, where he taught emerging aviators the critical art of airborne communications. By July 1938, he was back on the College staff, shaping the next generation of RAF officers on the eve of global conflict.When war broke out in early 1940, Sawyer joined the staff of No. 9 Base Group Station, contributing to the organisational backbone of Fighter Command. On 27 May 1940, he swapped staff duties for the cockpit once more, arriving at No. 6 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Sutton Bridge for refresher flying. Just weeks later, on 15June, he became Officer Commanding %u2018B%u2019 Flight at the newly formed No. 7 OTU in Hawarden, guiding pilots through the vital transition to front-line aircraft.With Britain%u2019s skies under threat, Sawyer was posted to No. 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on 2 July 1940. Six days later, at only 25 years old, he assumed full command. Under his leadership, the squadron undertook dawn patrols and night interceptions during the darkest hours of the Battle of Britain. Final Mission and LegacyIn the early hours of 2 August 1940, Sawyer climbed into Spitfire R6799 for a night patrol launch. Moments after take-off, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. He was killed instantly, aged just 25. He was later cremated at the City of London Crematorium in East Ham.%u2022 January 1933 %u2013 Entered RAF College, Cranwell%u2022 December 1934 %u2013 Graduated; joined No. 142 Squadron, Andover%u2022 May 1936 %u2013 Staff, Electrical and Wireless School, Cranwell%u2022 July 1938 %u2013 Staff, RAF College, Cranwell%u2022 Early 1940 %u2013 Staff, No. 9 Base Group Station%u2022 27 May 1940 %u2013 Refresher at No. 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge%u2022 15 June 1940 %u2013 OC %u2018B%u2019 Flight, No. 7 OTU, Hawarden%u2022 2 July 1940 %u2013 Posted to No. 65 Squadron, Hornchurch%u2022 8 July 1940 %u2013 Assumed command of No. 65 Squadron%u2022 2 August 1940 %u2013 Killed in Spitfire R6799 crash; cremated at East Ham.