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Born 19 November 1920 - Joined old friends 16 January
2009
(The following is from an email I recently recieved from Joe's son Steve)
3 sisters and 1 brother
2 sisters were teachers and became head mistress’s.
Teresa survives and is very fit, living in Preston.
Brother George became Canon.
3rd sister (Jane) was a rebel and left home when she was young –
great character!!
War Record
RAF from an ‘illegally early’ age.
Joe flew All the Spitfire Mk including Mk 9 with the massive Merlin engines.
He was well decorated and has several entries in Books written about Fighter
Pilots / Aces. For example:-
VENAFRO & LAGO 1944. 21st May:
At 18.20 hours 8 a/c. took off to give area cover to
24 BALTIMORES bombing in the VELLETRI area. At 18.30 Hrs. before the bombers
arrived GRUBSTAKE reported 20+ Bandits E. of ROME going S. F/O J.S. EKBERY
chased 3 Fw.190's fired on one in a dive at 3,000' from 200 yards hitting
it in the Port Wing and Fuselage and black smoke poured from the E/A which
went down from 1,000' like a falling leaf (G.0162). He then turned into
a second Fw.190 and lost sight of the first. Claim 1 Fw.190 PROBABLY DESTROYED.
Firing at the second E/A from 200 yards astern he saw strikes on fuselage
and Wings and the pilot baled out at 1,000' at G.0162. Claim 1 Fw.190
Destroyed. He then saw a third Fw.190 turning to Port 6 miles E. of ROME
at 500'. Catching him up rapidly he fired from 150 yards quarter astern
striking Fuselage and Port Wing. E/A went into a vertical dive and crashed
at F.9159. Claim 1 Fw.190 DESTROYED.
Flew with 222, 243, 232, 145 & 93 Squadrons
DFC Gazetted (issue 36609)14 July 1944 - The citation
reads :
Flying Officer Joseph Scarisbrick EKBERY (145863),
R.A.F.V.R., 145 Sqn.
While engaged in a recent operation, Flying Officer Ekbery's aircraft
formed part of a formation of 8 aircraft which attacked a force
of 25 Focke Wulfs and Messerschmitt 109s. During the ensuing combat
he became separated from the rest of his squadron. Seeing 6 enemy
aircraft beneath him, he immediately attacked, and though alone
and deep in enemy territory, he forced them to jettison their bombs
and pressed home his attack with such vigor that he succeeded in
destroying 2 of the enemy before himself returning unscathed. This
officer is now on his 2nd tour of operational duty and has destroyed
6 enemy aircraft and damaged others. |
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Work:-
Manweb electricity company in Liverpool before the war. After the war
all Electricity companies were Nationalised and Joe worked for the ‘Electricity
Board’ for the rest of his working life, moving to live in Gerrards
Cross in Buckinghamshire in 1971 and taking up the post of Chief Engineer
with Southern Electricity. He later worked for 3 years in Saudi Arabia
after taking early retirement.
In Saudi Arabia Joe was responsible for setting up the Electrical Supply
(the Grid) for an area equal in size to France. He enjoyed Saudi Arabia
(brewed his own booze at great risk)
Hobby:-
Played Squash, Golf and Rugby all his life (plus the associated drinking!!).
Joe was still Refereeing Rugby (at County level) @ 50+yrs.
Brother – The late Canon George Ekbery
Children:-
George Stephen Pasley Ekbery - Worked in Qatar during the time Joe was
in Saudi, after working in South Africa (between 20 and 24 yrs old). Started
International Telesystems Ltd (ITL) in 1991 and sold it to Kingston Comms
Plc in 1998 (lost loads of money but employed 40 software developers and
recognised as leaders in Comms Software in Europe). Later started RRI
and ECL in 2002.
God Daughter, Suzanne Wendy Ogdon-Starkel, has been a constant support.
Grand Children:-
Jessica 19 yrs – happy doing this and that! Enjoying her work at
Dunn & Bradsreet.
Ben 16 yrs – accepted into the Elite School of Rugby and signed
contracts with Wasps. Enjoying his time at St Edwards School Oxford.
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Sadly, "Joe Joe" joined old friends January
16th 2009 -
Donations In lieu of flowers, may be given at the funeral
in aid of the Gold Hill Housing Association, respecting the dignity of
old age to the end.
1200 noon Burial service at Parkside Crematorium followed
by ‘Refreshments’ at the Black Horse PH – all are welcome.
Sit at Joe’s seat at your peril!
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--- English Aces ---
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