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Gerald Stapleton: pilot

Squadron Leader Gerald ‘Stapme’ Stapleton, who has died at the age of 89, was a Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot and larger than life character.

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Forbes Inglis

Although born in South Africa, Stapleton was both the quintessential Englishman and fighter pilot.

Educated at the King Edward VI School in Totnes, he was one of many wartime pilots to be inspired by Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus and he joined the RAF in January 1939.