Greek in RAF service still missing since WWII

John Moschonas was born in London, the son of a family of Greek origin. His father, Andreas Moschonas, was from Meronas, Rethymno and had studied literature at the University of Athens before emigrating to England. His mother, Elli Souris, was the daughter of the great Greek satirical poet Georgios Souris (1853–1919). He grew up in the Greek community of London, embodying the union of Greek identity and British military service.

At the age of just 19, he served as a radio operator/gunner in a Bristol Beaufort DD959 ‘Q’ of 217 Squadron RAF, based in Luqa, Malta. On 20 June 1942, his aircraft was shot down by a Ju 88C of 6./NJG 2, piloted by Feldwebel Heinz Rökker, and crashed into the Ionian Sea. The crew were never recovered. After the war, his family believed that he may have survived, due to a photograph of concentration camp prisoners—but this was never confirmed. His name is inscribed on Column 262 of the El Alamein Memorial, Egypt.