A2QFI

I have just heard that this well-known and distinguished WW2 veteran died on Sunday night.

Finningley Boy

Absolutely charming Gentleman, I spoke to him briefly with another Battle of Britain pilot, Peter Brown, at Duxford during a book signing about 4 years or so ago.

FB

Gainesy

Sad news, a great bloke.

LogieBear

I was most fortunate to meet this true gentleman at Leuchars around six years ago. Indeed, he was most respected and I am saddened by his loss.

Leon Jabachjabicz

Another of the "Last of the Few" gone



For those never fortunate to meet "Stapme" then read on... Gerald Stapleton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I was fortunate enough to meet him just the once - he struck me as "unstoppable" just 2 years ago and he was one of the last to leave the Mess Bar at nearly 90!

Ad Astra, Stapme

LJ

The B Word

Here is Stapme dispatching a 109 of III/JG3 - good shot, Sir!



RIP, mon brave...

tarantonight

Another part of our history gone forever.

DamianF

Truly, part of our national history lost.

Some of Stapme's exploits with 603 Sqn from Hornchurch may be read in the excellent book by Richard Hillary (another 603 Spitfire pilot) entitled "The Last Enemy" - thoroughly recommended reading.

sidevalve

No words possible to describe these guys.
RIP Sir..

Toddington Ted

"No words possible to describe these guys.
RIP Sir.."

Hear hear. I was very fortunate to meet this wonderful man at Cranwell at a Battle of Britain Dining in Night just a few years ago. I feel very privileged to have met him and some of the others of his ilk.

Impiger

He was a true gentleman and ever so humble - 'I was just lucky' was often his refrain when talking about the Battle. Knowing that he had served on 603 RAuxAF Sqn I mistakenly thought he might have been a reserve so when I asked him what he was doing at the outbreak of war he replied: 'I was at school'. He was also very pragmatic about shooting himself down in a Typhoon near Arnhem - roughly translated into today's linguafranca 'I fu**ed it up' was all he would say!

As well as the Last Enemy, David Ross' biography STAPME is well worth a read.

Raise a glass to one of the last of the few

clunckdriver

It seems only yesterday that this group of true heros were coming to our squadron get togethers and even comanding our units, I had the honour to serve under more than one of "the few", they all had a zest for live that was hard to keep up with, we must never let them fade from history.

fangorboy

So sad to hear this news.
Sqn Ldr Gerald “Stapme” Stapleton was a real character, who I met at a Battle of Britain DIN at RAFC Cranwell.
Such a modest man. I can honestly say I was so proud to have spoken with one of the “few”.
RIP Sir.

Ali Barber

Squadron Leader 'Stapme' Stapleton - Telegraph