Geoffrey Longfield

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Geoffrey Longfield
Personal information
Full name
Geoffrey Phelps Longfield
Born4 December 1909
High Halstow, Kent, England
Died25 February 1943(1943-02-25) (aged 33)
Rennes, Brittany, German-occupied France
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm (unknown style)
RelationsTom Longfield (brother)
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 36
Batting average 9.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 26
Balls bowled 210
Wickets 2
Bowling average 69.00
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 2/51
Catches/stumpings –/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 March 2019

Geoffrey Phelps Longfield (4 December 1909 – 25 February 1943) was an English first-class cricketer and

Second World War with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, during which he was killed on a mission while commanding 105 Squadron
.

Life and military career

The son of the Reverend Thomas William Longfield, he was born at High Halstow in Kent, and was educated at Aldenham School.[1] Upon leaving Aldenham, Longfield enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer in February 1929,[2] with confirmation in the rank in March 1930.[3] He was promoted to the rank of flying officer in August 1930.[4] He made his debut in first-class cricket for the Royal Air Force cricket team against the Army at The Oval in 1931;[5] he claimed both of his first-class wickets in this match, dismissing Alexander Wilkinson and Adrian Gore.[6] He made a second first-class appearance the following year in a repeat of the 1931 fixture.[5]

He was transferred to the

Second World War, Longfield was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in December 1940.[11]

He was promoted to the temporary rank of

wing commander in September 1942, with seniority antedated to March 1942,[12] and was placed in command of 105 Squadron,[1] which had the distinction of being the first squadron to fly the Mosquito fighter-bomber. On 26 February 1943, he took off from RAF Marham for an attack on Rennes in occupied France.[1] While engaging the target, Longfield made a navigational error and collided with another Mosquito in the squadron. Longfield and his navigator, Flight Lieutenant Ralph Frederick Mills, were both killed,[1] along with the crew of the Mosquito he collided with, piloted by Flight Officer Spencer Griffith Kimmel of the Royal Canadian Air Force.[13] His replacement as commanding officer of 105 Squadron, Wing Commander John William Deacon, was killed the following day in a training accident in Norfolk.[13]

Longfield was buried at Rennes Eastern Communal Cemetery.[1] His brother, Tom Longfield, was also a first-class cricketer.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1526706980
    .
  2. ^ "No. 33473". The London Gazette. 1 March 1929. p. 1468.
  3. ^ "No. 33618". The London Gazette. 24 June 1930. p. 3961.
  4. ^ "No. 33644". The London Gazette. 16 September 1930. p. 5960.
  5. ^ a b "First-Class Matches played by Geoffrey Longfield". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Army v Royal Air Force, 1931". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  7. ^ "No. 34028". The London Gazette. 27 February 1934. p. 1348.
  8. ^ "No. 34113". The London Gazette. 11 December 1934. p. 8058.
  9. ^ "No. 34247". The London Gazette. 21 January 1936. p. 462.
  10. ^ "No. 34474". The London Gazette. 18 January 1938. p. 370.
  11. ^ "No. 35010". The London Gazette. 10 December 1940. p. 6985.
  12. ^ "No. 35725". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 September 1948. p. 4258.
  13. ^ a b "105 Squadron Mosquito". aircrewremembered.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
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