THE heroic actions of an RAF pilot who sacrificed his life to fight a German bomber have been remembered in a special Battle of Britain ceremony.

Sgt Pilot Bruce Hancock was 26 years old when he took off from the service training school at RAF Windrush, just four miles west of Burford on August 18, 1940.

It was during the midst of the Battle of Britain’s Hardest Day – when the German Luftwaffe attempted to bomb British airfields out of existence – that the determined volunteer reservist wanted to do some night flying in his unarmed Avro Anson training aircraft.

But he was spotted by an enemy Heinkel bomber that turned its seven machine guns on him. Sgt Hancock could not return fire so decided his only option was to ram the Heinkel’s underbelly.

Both aircraft fell from the sky in flames with a total loss of life. The German crew were buried at Northleach Church with full military honours while Sgt Hancock was buried at Hendon.

Oxford Mail:

Sgt Pilot Bruce Hancock

At a special ceremony to mark the ‘hardest day’ of the Battle of Britain on Tuesday, Sgt Hancock’s remaining family, veterans, councillors and dignitaries gathered for a special ceremony at the former RAF Windrush. They re-dedicated a plaque to him and unveiled a new one to commemorate the role of the airfield in training pilots.

His nephew Keith Hancock, 72, from Hampshire, said: “I was born three years after he died and I used to think of him as my heroic uncle.

“What more could a person do in the duty of war? He clearly should have been given the Victoria Cross.”

Mr Hancock said his uncle had boasted to his comrades in the pub a few weeks before the incident that if he saw a German bomber he would ram it.

Oxford Mail:

The plaque

Bill King and his brother Tony King from Banbury are members of the North Oxfordshire branch of the Military Vehicle Trust OXCOT, helped organise the event.

Mr King said: “It was an incredibly courageous thing to do. He’s one of the unsung heroes of the Battle of Britain.”

Oxford Mail:

Sgt Hancock's nephew Keith Hancock with artist Allan White and a painting depicting the collision

Sgt Hancock was right to be worried. Two German bombers had attacked Brize Norton on August 16 and destroyed 48 training aircraft including Airspeed Oxfords, Avros and Harvards. One civilian was killed and 10 injured.

AUGUST 18, 1940

The Battle of Britain raged from July to October 1940.


It was an attempt by the German air force (Luftwaffe) to destroy the RAF so Hitler could launch his planned invasion of the British Isles without threat from the skies.


The battle is remembered for the daring and bravery of both German and British pilots who went to extreme lengths to destroy their opposition.


On the battle’s most destructive day, August 18, The Luftwaffe flew 850 sorties over Britain, involving 2,200 aircrew attempting to bomb British airfields out of existence.


The RAF resisted with 927 sorties, involving 600 aircrew. 


By nightfall, the RAF and Fleet Air Arm had lost 68 aircraft, with 31 shot down during air-to-air combat, while 69 German aircraft were destroyed or written off.


The Battle of Britain ended in October 1940 when Hitler postponed his seaborne invasion of Britain called Operation Sea Lion because he had not gained control of the skies.