Battle of Britain London Monument – Sgt. J Cowley 
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN LONDON MONUMENT 
"Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed
by so many to so few." 
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Privacy Statement The Airmen’s Stories – Sgt. J Cowley
James Cowley attended the Royal High School, Greenwich. He joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in January 1931 and passed out in December 1933 as a Metal Rigger. He later applied for pilot training and was selected.
Cowley had completed his flying training and was serving with 87 Squadron at Debden on 1st January 1939 as a Sergeant-Pilot. He was still with the squadron at the start of the Battle of Britain.
On 15th August Cowley made a forced-landing at Symondsbury, near Bridport, after a combat over Portland, in which he destroyed a Me110. His Hurricane, P3465, was written off and Cowley was admitted to Bridport Hospital, slightly wounded.
He rejoined 87 Squadron on discharge from hospital but did not fly operationally with it again.
On 14th October 1940 Cowley was posted away to RAF Exeter.
He was commissioned in July 1942 but his subsequent service is currently undocumented until 1946 when he was released from the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant.
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