A campaign for a memorial to the forgotten RAF reconnaissance heroes of World War Two – including a North Devon man who is buried in Combe Martin churchyard – is one step closer to fruition.

There is no national memorial to the pilots of the PRU – Photographic Reconnaissance Unit – who flew light unarmed planes into the heart of enemy territory to capture vital intelligence that helped turn the tide of the war.

Earlier this week in the House of Commons, Veterans Minister Al Carns confirmed that efforts to honour these unsung heroes are now in the planning stage.

The campaign has been backed by more than 200 MPs, including North Devon MP Ian Roome, who served in the RAF and has welcomed the news.

The PRU was formed in 1939 to carry out high-risk, clandestine intelligence-gathering missions throughout the war. Flying modified Spitfires and Mosquitos, PRU crews captured more than 26 million images of enemy positions and activities.

Pilots had a 50% fatality rate and their wartime survival rate was an average of two-and-a-half months.

Among them was a North Devon man, Flying Officer John Neville Rowbotham, a quiet hero whose story stands among many. Born in Rhodesia in 1921 during his father’s military posting, he later returned with his family to their native Umberleigh.

Rowbotham joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve and flew with 541 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, piloting the cutting-edge Spitfire PR.XIX. On November 29, 1944, during a mission to Hamburg, his aircraft crashed into the sea off the Essex coast for reasons still unknown. He was just 23-years-old and is buried in Combe Martin churchyard.

Since 2021, the Spitfire AA810 Project has campaigned for a permanent memorial to honour the 1,746 PRU aircrew and the 635 photographic interpreters—many of whom were women—including figures such as actor Dirk Bogarde and Sarah Churchill, daughter of the wartime Prime Minister. Their expert analysis turned photographs into war-winning intelligence.

North Devon MP Ian Roome said: “As an RAF veteran myself, I’m proud to support the campaign to honour those who served in the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit—remarkable individuals like North Devon’s John Rowbotham who carried out vital missions under exceptionally difficult conditions.

“Their bravery and sacrifice must not be forgotten and I look forward to continuing to work with the Spitfire AA810 Project to help deliver this long-overdue memorial, and to paying my respects at the site once it is complete.”

Spitfire AA810 Project director Tony Hoskins added: “Since we first looked at commemorating the highly clandestine work of the RAF unarmed Reconnaissance Squadrons, we have uncovered some incredible stories of the work these young men and women carried out, their actions unknown yet so vital to millions of people impacted by the conflict.

“Now on the 80th anniversary of VE Day it is so fitting to have the Government support this major step forward in recognising their work and sacrifice.”

If anyone is related to or knew someone who served in the PRU during WW2, visit the Spitfire AA810 Project website at www.spitfireaa810.co.uk or get email Tony Hoskins on tony@spitfireaa810.co.uk