Peter Woodruff Comely was born on 31st March 1921 and joined the RAF on a short service commission in January 1939. After completing his training at 11 FTS Shawbury he was posted to 145 Squadron at Croydon on 23rd October 1939, soon after the squadron was reformed.
On 10th February 1940 Comely, in company with five other pilots, delivered Hurricanes to 87 Squadron at Lille-Seclin. They remained to fly operationally with the squadron and the last two survivors, Comely and F/O DH Ward went on to the strength.
On 20th May Comely engaged a Ju88 near Arras but took return fire in his wing and oil tank and had to return for repairs.
87 was withdrawn from France to Debden on 20th May. On that day Comely claimed two Ju88's destroyed. The squadron left Debden for Church Fenton.
Above: Comely (left) with his colleague F/Lt. IR Gleed (KIA 16th April 1943).
At the end of July 'B' Flight of 87 went south in a night-fighting role. During the night of 7th/8th August Comely shot down a He111 into the sea. Comely claimed a Ju88 destroyed on 11th August.
He shot down a Me110 in combat off Portland on the 15th but was himself shot down, crashing into the sea in Hurricane P2872.
He was 19 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 7.
On 10th February 1940 Comely, in company with five other pilots, delivered Hurricanes to 87 Squadron at Lille-Seclin. They remained to fly operationally with the squadron and the last two survivors, Comely and F/O DH Ward went on to the strength.
On 20th May Comely engaged a Ju88 near Arras but took return fire in his wing and oil tank and had to return for repairs.
87 was withdrawn from France to Debden on 20th May. On that day Comely claimed two Ju88's destroyed. The squadron left Debden for Church Fenton.
Above: Comely (left) with his colleague F/Lt. IR Gleed (KIA 16th April 1943).
At the end of July 'B' Flight of 87 went south in a night-fighting role. During the night of 7th/8th August Comely shot down a He111 into the sea. Comely claimed a Ju88 destroyed on 11th August.
He shot down a Me110 in combat off Portland on the 15th but was himself shot down, crashing into the sea in Hurricane P2872.
He was 19 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 7.