Combat Beginnings & The Battle of France
With the outbreak of hostilities in 1939-40, Stanford-Tuck flew with No. 65 Squadron. In May 1940, he was posted as a Flight Commander to No. 92 Squadron, flying Spitfires during the Battle of France and the evacuation at Dunkirk. It was in these early operations that he achieved his first aerial victories.
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For his actions over Dunkirk, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 28 June 1940. His leadership, courage, and technical flying skill began to gain recognition.
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Battle of Britain & Squadron Command
In September 1940, Stanford-Tuck was promoted to Squadron Leader and given command of No. 257 Squadron, which at the time flew Hawker Hurricanes. Under his leadership, the squadron’s performance, morale, and operational effectiveness improved significantly.
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Capture, POW, Escape & Later War Years
On 28 January 1942, during a low-level sweep over northern France near Boulogne, Stanford-Tuck was hit by anti-aircraft fire, forced to crash-land, and taken prisoner by the Germans. At that time his score stood at 29 enemy aircraft destroyed, plus shared kills, probables, and damaged.
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He was held in Stalag Luft III, the German POW camp famous for many escape attempts (including The Great Escape). While he was not among the escapees from that event, he was involved in POW life and in escape planning. Near the end of the war, during the forced marches and chaos as Allied forces advanced, he escaped in early 1945—reportedly by arranging to be left behind in a barn, then making his way through Polish territory to link up with advancing Russian forces. He was repatriated thereafter.
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Aerial Victories & Awards
By the time of his capture, Stanford-Tuck’s official credited aerial victories included approximately 29 destroyed, two shared destroyed, six probable, several damaged and one or more shared damaged.
His decorations were many, reflecting repeated acts of courage and leadership:
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), with two Bars (i.e. three awards of the DFC)
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Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
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Air Force Cross (AFC)
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Also the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded after the war.
Post-War RAF Career & Later Life
After the war, Tuck remained in the RAF, rising to the rank of Wing Commander. His Squadron Leader rank was made permanent in 1945, and he was appointed station commander at RAF Coltishall around 1947-48. He retired from active RAF service on 13 May 1949.
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After leaving the RAF, he worked as a test pilot, including for English Electric on aircraft such as the Canberra jet bomber. He then moved to Kent, settling in Eastry, where he and his wife (Joyce, married 1945) raised two sons. He became a mushroom farmer, a profession he pursued for many years.
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He also participated in public life, acting as a technical adviser on the 1969 film Battle of Britain, and maintaining friendships even with former German adversaries such as Adolf Galland.
Tuck died on 5 May 1987 in Canterbury, Kent, aged 70. He is buried at St. Clement’s Church in Sandwich. A memorial plaque there commemorates him.
Personality, Legacy & “Tuck’s Luck”
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Bob Stanford-Tuck was widely admired not only for his flying ability but also for his leadership style, competitiveness, courage and—famously—his good fortune (“Tuck’s Luck”). He survived several brushes with death: collisions in training, being shot down, an escape-from-POW, etc. He was known to be approachable, deeply committed to his men (ground crew and pilots), and someone who combined technical skill with daring and personal confidence.
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In post-war years, he has been subject of several biographies; a recent one is Stanford Tuck: Hero of the Battle of Britain by Helen Doe (2025), which looks more deeply at the myths and truths of his life.
Robert Stanford Tuck (second from left), a newly minted ace, receives his DFC from King George VI at a ceremony at Hornchurch, Essex, June 28, 1940. Along with Tuck (left to right) are Flying Officer J L Allen; Tuck; Flight Lieutenant Alan C Deere; Flight Lieutenant A G ‘Sailor’ Malan; Squadron Leader J A Leathart. (IWM CH 432)
During the Battle of Britain, he continued to add to his tally of enemy aircraft destroyed and damaged. He earned two Bars to his Distinguished Flying Cross (i.e. three awards of the DFC), recognizing repeated acts of valour and leadership. In October 1940, during operations from Martlesham Heath and North Weald, No. 257 Squadron was heavily engaged under his command.
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Wing Command & Further Combat
By mid-1941, Tuck was leading fighter sweeps over northern France. He was appointed Wing Leader at RAF Duxford, later involved in operations with the Biggin Hill Wing. His leadership was noted not just for individual flying skill but for his ability to organize, inspire, and lead squadrons and wings in difficult offensive operations.
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He was among the first to fly Hurricanes upgraded with 20mm cannon armament (Hurricane Mk IIC), which significantly improved their firepower
Bob Stanford Tuck with his "killl markings" on the side of his Spitfire
Bob Stanford Tuck with his fellow Cobra Roger Bushell in an Observer's uniform looking gaunt
Early Life & RAF Entry
Roland Robert Stanford-Tuck was born on 1 July 1916 in Catford, London. His parents were Stanley Lewis Tuck and Ethel Clara Tuck. He was educated at St. Dunstan’s Preparatory School and St. Dunstan’s College in Catford. After leaving school in 1932, he spent some time at sea as a cadet in the Merchant Navy aboard SS Marconi, then worked in civilian roles (as a clerk, including for a stockbrokers’ firm), before deciding on a flying career.
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In September 1935, he joined the Royal Air Force on a Short Service Commission as an acting Pilot Officer and commenced flying training at No. 3 Flying Training School, Grantham. He learned first in biplane trainers like the Avro Tutor, Hawker Hart, Hawker Fury and Bristol Bulldog. After completing training, in 1936 he was posted to No. 65 Squadron RAF, initially flying biplanes (Gloster Gauntlet, then Gladiator), later transitioning to more modern fighters.
Bob Stanford Tuck with Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer on the set of the Battle of Britain
Bob Stanford Tuck with his war time foe and post war friend Adolf Galland
Spitfire with Bob Standford Tucks initials, although we all know 92 Squadron's identifier was actually QJ, it was a lovely touch to create this in his honour
Bob Stanford Tuck with Lady Bader and Douglas Bader