John Desmond Lenahan, the son of John Martin Lenahan and Sarah Edith Lenahan, was born in Tayport, Fife in 1920.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training course on 29th August 1938. John finished his training with No. 14 Course on 11th April 1940 before joining 145 Sqn at Croydon on 19th April. He then went on to join 607 Sqn, also at Croydon on 1st June 1940.

On 9th September, at about 5pm, a force of 300+ enemy aircraft with fighter escorts crossed the South Coast to fly up the Thames Estuary to bomb London and 24 squadrons of the RAF were ordered to intercept.

At 17.30, 607 Sqn, flying Hurricanes from Tangmere, made their first contact with the Luftwaffe over Mayfield in Kent. While at 17000 feet, the patrol of twelve aircraft spotted a huge force of approximately 65 Junkers 88s and Dornier 17s. As the squadron turned to attack the bombers, about 45 Me109s dived at them from 19000 feet.

During the ensuing dogfights, John Lenahan, along with several colleagues, was shot down. Harry Welford, another of 607’s pilots involved in the attack recalled: "We were well and truly bounced by Me109s on that day: we lost six out of 12 aircraft; amongst these were my best friends Stuart Parnall and 'Scotty' Lenahan and, as no more was heard of young George Drake, his death was presumed. We were shocked, we just could not take it all in. No one talked about it but we all hoped for news on George from some hospital or pub. No news came so we held back our sorrow. It was “You heard about Stuart and Scotty, rotten luck wasn’t it ?” and someone would add “…and young George Drake, bloody good blokes all of them”.

John’s Hurricane came down at Mount Ephraim, Cranbrook, and he was killed instantly. He was 20 years old and is buried at Cranbrook Cemetery.