LAC Knud Børge Norman Rohde Fischer

Knud B N R Fischer was killed in a flying training accident in May 1941 while at 15 Service Flying Training School. He was born in the UK to Danish parents.

Knud Børge Norman Rohde Fischer was born on 4 August 1920 in West Derby, Lancashire, to first officer Knud Christian Fischer and Dorothy Ann Fischer (née Higgins). ^[1] Fischer’s father was Danish and a member of the Danish merchant navy, who emigrated to England in 1915. ^[1] His father was naturalised as a British subject on 1 December 1924. This means that Fischer was born as a Danish subject abroad.^[3]

Fischer enlisted in the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve at RAF Padgate in London in late 1939/early 1940. ^[4] He was selected for training as a pilot. In May 1941, he was in service flying training at 15 Service Flying Training School

On 22 May 1941, Fischer took off from RAF Kidlington on a training flight in Oxford II W6631. Over Coventry he accidentally hit balloon cables and crashed at 215 Beechworth Avenue. ^[5] He was buried following service held at St Mary’s Church in Cressington.^[6]

A few months later, the family donated £10 10s for the Danish Spitfire Fund “In Memory of Acting Pilot Knud Børge Norman Rohde. ^[7]

Endnotes

[1] Ancestry: 1939 England and Wales Register; UK and Ireland, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current.

[2] Copenhagen Municipal Archive: Politiets registerblade. Station 7. Filmrulle 0008. Registerblad 2237 (unikt id. 2171723).

[3] TNA: HO 334/99/11701, Naturalisation Certificate: Knud Christian Fischer. From Denmark. Resident in Liverpool. Certificate A11701 issued 1 December 1924.

[4] Fischer’s service number 1113756 is part of a block allocated to RAF Padgate (965000 to 1149977) on Septemner 1939. The next block allocated to this centre was allocated in April 1941.

[5] TNA: AIR 81/6574, Leading Aircraftman K B N R Fischer: killed; aircraft accident, Oxford W6631, 15 Service Flying Training School, 22 May 1941; Air-Britain, Crashes in Wales and West Midland, https://air-britain.com/pdfs/military/Crashes_Wales_and_West_Midlands.pdf (accessed on 28 October 2024).

[6] L.A.C. Fischer, Grassendale, Runcorn Weekly News, May 30, 1941, p. 5.

[7] Jagerfondet. Fredie Bidragsliste, Frot Danmark, 29 January 1942.