JER Young - Lost Souls Project Research Film

2nd Lieutenant John Edward Royston Young was a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps based at Rochford Aerodrome in 1917.  On becoming a pilot, John had been posted to 37 Home Defence Squadron and was guarding the northern approaches of the Thames Estuary.

Following a warning of an enemy formation approaching the coast of Essex he took off in a Sopwith 1½ Strutter from Rochford, with C.C. Taylor as his gunner. Despite being in a technically inferior aeroplane, Lt Young flew into the centre the flight enemy bombers and flew a collision course with one to try and stop it reaching its target.

Sadly Lt Young was overwhelmed by enemy machine gun fire, his plane was disabled, and he was killed. The Sopwith aeroplane fell into the sea off Southend and the Gunner, CC Taylor was rescued, but died later of his wounds.