Eric Lock
| Eric Stanley Lock | |
|---|---|
Lock in the cockpit of his Spitfire. Just below the cockpit are 26 Swastika emblems denoting aerial victories. Lock has already recorded his final kill — on 14 July 1941. Shortly after this photo was taken, Lock disappeared.
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Sawn Off" |
| Born | 19 April 1919 Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, England |
| Died | 3 August 1941 (Aged 22) English Channel, north of Calais, France |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1939–1941 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit |
No. 41 Squadron RAF No. 611 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar |
Eric Stanley Lock DSO, DFC & Bar (19 April 1919 – 3 August 1941) was a British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.
Born on Bomere Farm, in the village of Bayston Hill, outside Shrewsbury in 1919, Lock was educated at the Public Elementary School in Bayston Hill (1924–1926), at Clivedon School in Church Stretton (1926–1928), at Shrewsbury Boys High School (1928–1929), and finally at Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury (1929–1933). After leaving school, he was employed on the family farm, Allfield, and in Bayston Quarry until 1939.
Developing a love for motor vehicles, motor cycles and flying as a teenager, Lock joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as an AC2 Airman u/t Pilot (No. 745051) on 17 February 1939, and was promoted to Sergeant the following day. He undertook his initial peacetime training mostly on weekends and some week nights with 28 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School (No. 28 E&RFTS) run by the company 'Reid & Sigrist' at Meir, outside Stoke-on-Trent and made his first solo flight within the month.
No. 28 E&RFTS was disbanded on 31 August 1939 and Lock was mobilized the following day, but immediately sent on leave with full pay until 29 October 1939. His wartime training commenced on 30 October 1939 when he was posted to Course 1, 4 Initial Training Wing (No. 4 ITW) at Bexhill-on-Sea. He graduated on 8 December 1939 and was posted the following day to Course 17, 6 Service Flying Training School (No. 6 SFTS) at RAF Little Rissington.
Lock was awarded by pilot badge ('Wings') in March 1940, but he did not graduate the course until 18 June 1940, and was granted a commission (No. 81642) the same day. He was immediately posted to No. 41 Squadron RAF, then based at RAF Catterick in Yorkshire. By the time of his arrival on the Squadron, Lock had not flown a single hour in a Spitfire and his first solo in the type took place on 21 June 1940. He spent the ensuing six weeks learning to fly the aircraft and consequently did not make his first operational sortie until 9 August 1940.
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