Gateway School 1932-37.
Son of Cyril and May Ottey.
On the 27th April 1941, Sergeant Ottey flew his aircraft from the deck of HMS Ark Royal to reinforce 261 Squadron on Malta. He died 5 days later when his Hurricane Z3854 crashed into the sea. It is thought that his oxygen supply had failed. He is commemorated on the Malta Memorial, Panel 2, Column 1. The vital island of Malta was under severe attack at this time, with only a very limited number of aircraft to defend itself. No. 216 Squadron had been reformed in August 1940 to combine the two flights operating in the defence of Malta. The Malta Fighter Flight operating three ancient bi-plane Gloster Sea Gladiators named Hope, Faith and Charity, flown by volunteer pilots with no fighter experience. Later No. 418 Flight RAF operating Hawker Hurricanes which were sent as reinforcements to the embattled island. Raymond Ottey is also recorded but then crossed through in a splendid Book of Remembrance from St Saviour’s Church now in the care of the At Risk War Memorials Project, having been left sopping wet by the vandals as being of no value.
