BORLAND D C (Noel) Fl Lt 450508 266 Sqn

P/O NOEL VINCENT BORLAND 450508
RAFVR 266 Rhodesia Sqn
Motto Hiabezulu Stabber of the Sky
The man who rode the Red Bull

The photograph shows Noel with his twin brother Doug; he is the shorter of the two. They were born in South Africa and attended No.25 EFTS at Belvedere in Rhodesia. Both completed training in early 1942 and left for England to join 58 OTU on Spitfires. Having completed their training they both joined 266 Sqn flying Typhoons. On the 12th June 1943, Noel was carrying out a patrol 12 miles east of Berry Head when his engine failed. He baled out and managed to inflate and board his dinghy. In April 1945, he was on a shipping patrol flying Typhoon RB423 ZH-S when they sighted transport near Leer and dived to attack. Noel’s plane was hit by flak and he lost his life. He is buried at Sage War Cemetery Germany. Doug survived the war and was awarded the DFC.
Noel was a member of the Caterpillar Club; an association of people who have successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled aircraft.

266 Sqn 19th & 20th June 1943
Successful bale-outs occurred on the 19th & 20th June 1943
The first involved P/O Bundu Thompson and the second P/O Noel Vincent Borland. The Ops Log Book shows the squadrons feelings. Two bale outs and one forced landing all caused by engine failure in five days were very discouraging, These engine problems resulted in 266 Sqn having to enlist the support of 183 Sqn in mounting its anti-intruder patrols.

266 Sqn Operations Record 21st March 1945
This is the first day of spring and the day itself couldn’t have been lovelier. F/O Noel Borland pranged his much-troublesome “H” for Hardluck on landing in a 20 mph crosswind. Pilot unshaken and unhurt.

266 Sqn Operations Record 23rd April 1945
F/Lt Hughes led a section and took off for the south east of Stade to attack a train; cannon strikes were seen on the train and on nearby barracks. Later F/O Noel Borland and Killer Miller carried out a shipping recce. On the way back some motor transport were seen and attacked. F/O Borland was hit and went straight down. He did not call up. His loss was a blow for he was very popular. Sympathies were extended to his brother Doug. It was later found that he had been buried near the crash in Leer.