Battle of Britain London Monument – Sgt. J Metham 
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 Metham
James Metham, of Blackpool, was educated at Palatine Central Boys School. He joined the RAF on 1st September 1931 as an Aircraft Apprentice and passed out in August 1934 as a Metal Rigger. He later applied for pilot training and was selected.
With his training completed, he arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 28th May 1940, converted to Hurricanes and then joined 253 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 9th June.
In the early morning of 2nd September 1940 he was shot down by Me109’s in combat over Thanet and baled out, badly burned. His Hurricane, P2946, is believed to be the one which crashed at Longport, Crundale.
Metham was in hospital for six months.
He was commissioned in October 1941 but was killed on 21st September 1942 serving as a Flight Lieutenant flying instructor at 59 OTU.
His Hurricane, P3255 is reported to have spun in and crashed at Cark, Lancashire.
Metham was 28.
He was cremated at Carleton Crematorium, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.
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