Tony Snell (RAF officer)
|
Anthony Noel Snell DSO |
|
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tony |
| Born |
19 March 1922 Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK |
| Died | 4 August 2013 (aged 91) British Virgin Islands |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Service number | 119146 |
| Unit |
No. 242 Squadron RAF No. 504 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars |
World War II: |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order |
World War II:
Flight Lieutenant Anthony Noel "Tony" Snell DSO (19 March 1922 – 4 August 2013), was a British RAF pilot during the Second World War. He flew in the North African campaign in 1942 and was shot down during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. Initially captured by the Germans he escaped from a firing squad but was recaptured. He again escaped German captivity whilst in Italy and became one of the very few men to be awarded the DSO exclusively for escaping from the enemy.
Snell was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1933 and attended Cheltenham College. In November 1940 he volunteered for the RAF and was shipped to the United States for pilot training under the "Arnold" Scheme.
Snell returned to Britain during the summer of 1942 and joined No. 242 Squadron RAF flying Spitfires. In October 1942 his unit was transferred to North Africa to provide air cover for the Operation Torch landings. For the rest of 1942 and into early 1943, Snell's squadron provided air interception and ground attack sorties in support of the British First Army as it drove towards Tunis.
After the capitulation of Axis forces in May 1943, 242 Squadron was reassigned to Malta to refit for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. On 10 July 1943, Snell was detailed to provide air cover over the Allied beachhead but was 'bounced' by German Messerschmitt 109 fighters. His Spitfire was hit and he crash landed in enemy territory.
He initially ran into an Italian patrol and then a German one that fired at him. In his attempt to escape from the Germans he found he had hid in a minefield. After slowly finding his way out of the minefield he was captured by the Germans near an airfield. Thinking Snell was a spy they intended to execute him. Snell made another run for it and managed to again escape but was wounded in the right shoulder.
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Wikipedia