Battle of Britain London Monument – Sgt. A S Dredge 
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. A S Dredge
Allan Sydney Dredge was born on 4th February 1918 at Foleshill, Coventry and joined the RAFVR about July 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and was with 253 Squadron in early July 1940.
In a combat south of Biggin Hill on 30th August he fired at a Me109 which then collided with another and both went down. After capture the two German pilots would not speak to each other.
On 4th September Dredge claimed a Me110 destroyed and on the 14th a Me109, which exploded over Beacon Hill near Teynham.
Commissioned in March 1941, Dredge went to Malta in April, flying off HMS Ark Royal on the 27th and joining 261 Squadron. He was shot down in flames on 6th May and baled out, badly burned. He wasposted back to the UK in mid-July and was treated at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, becoming a Guinea Pig.
In 1943 Dredge served with 183 Squadron and was awarded the DFC (gazetted 27th July 1943). He was given command of 3 Squadron at Manston in October 1943 and led it until August 1944, during which time he had destroyed six V1 flying bombs. He was awarded the DSO (gazetted 5th December 1944).
On 18th May 1945 Dredge, now a Wing Commander, was killed whilst flying in Meteor III EE238 of No. 1335 CU, which struck the ground whilst demonstrating a roll at low level and high speed at Farnborough.
He was 27 years old and is buried in Coventry (St Paul’s) Cemetery.
His portrait was made by Cuthbert Orde.
Unfortunately the headstone has toppled over and the inscription is only
legible when the light catches it.
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