text: Ian Joll was missing presumed dead after he was forced to crash land his plane on a Dutch beach, but survived the incident to make it home to Gravesend . When Mabel Joll opened the front door to see her son Ian she fainted, believing she must have seen a ghost. Ten minutes earlier Mrs Joll had received a telegram telling her that her son, Squadron Leader Joll, was 'missing believed killed' after he crash-landed his plane on a Dutch beach during a strafing attack on a German aircraft in 1940. However Sq Ldr Joll had survived the crash and after trekking miles along a beach and persuading a ship to take him back to England, he had dropped in on his parents to say hello. His incredible story came to light as his medals - including the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) - were put up for auction and his background was revealed. Sq Ldr Joll  had been involved in a strafing attack on German aircraft on May 10, 1940, when his plane was hit by ground fire and he was forced to crash land his Bristol Blenheim light bomber. At an earlier briefing all crew had been told that under no circumstances should they allow the plane's secret interception radar to fall into enemy hands. After several unsuccessful attempts to set his Blenheim on fire, Sq Ldr Joll decided the only thing to do was to shoot into the plane's fuel tank. Sq Ldr Joll and his gunner then trekked for miles where they met a Dutch fisherman, who they persuaded to take them to England. Their journey to England took place just 16 days before the start of the evacuation of 300,000 Allied troops a few miles down the coast at Dunkirk. The vessel docked in Harwich, Essex, and Sq Ldr Joll travelled to his parents' house in Gravesend in Kent. Oliver Pepys, of Spinks auctioneers which is now selling Sq Ldr Joll's medals, said: 'His mother answered the door and promptly fainted. 'Not ten minutes before she had received a telegram from the Air Ministry stating that they regretted to have to inform her Pilot Officer Joll was missing believed killed. 'She must have thought she had opened the door to a ghost of her son. 'The authorities usually issued those telegrams fairly soon after a serviceman had gone missing and the tone of them was very much to fear the worst. 'Quite often news would eventually filter back that the missing person was in a prisoner of war camp somewhere. 'But for a relative to receive that dreaded telegram and then literally 10 minutes later that person show up alive is quite remarkable.' Sq Ldr Joll later rejoined his squadron at Manston. He served with 604 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain, flying under the command of newly appointed Flight Commander, John 'Cat's Eyes' Cunningham. Sq Ldr Joll's medals (left to right) the Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-1945 Star, with Battle of Britain Bar, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence and War medals and an Air Efficiency medal will be sold at auction . Just a few months later in November 1940  he had his second near death experience. His Blenheim aircraft iced up at 4,000ft and went into a spin. Two crewmen bailed out leaving Sq Ldr Joll to pull the plane out of the spin and land it safely. The squadron later upgraded to Beaufighter planes and just a year later in May 1941 he survived a third close shave, when his aircraft was attacked by a German Heinkel, seriously injuring his radar operator. Sq Ldr Joll nursed his comrade and took the stricken Beaufighter plane back to base. Sq Ldr Joll  went on to five 'kills', and was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for service. In April 1942 Joll was posted to 153 Squadron, based at Ballyhalbert where he helped the unit convert to use Beaufighters. He later returned to his squad, 604, and was promoted to Flight Commander. Sq Ldr Joll went on to fly a Beaufighter night fighter (file pic) and shot down several Nazi planes . In November 1943 Joll worked alongside Lord Louis Mountbatten on planning the parachute landings for D-Day and also helped develop the giant panjandrum - a huge cable-laying drum powered by rockets intended to destroy German mines on the Normandy beaches. However this too almost ended in tragedy. Sq Ldr Joll helped organise a demonstration of the pajandrum for top military officials only for the weapon to veer out of control and head straight towards the assembled generals, admirals and air marshals, prompting them to flee. An article in the London Gazette, published in 1943, said: 'He is an exceptionally keen and skilful leader, whose personal example has been reflected in the high morale of the flight he commands. In spite of trying experiences, his enthusiasm remains unabated.' Joll's final posting was to New Delhi, working for the Directorate of Combined Operations. This time he was involved in the planning for the invasion of Burma. After the war he married wife Eileen who served as an ambulance driver during the Second World War and was no stranger to dangerous situations herself. In 1941 she helped transport a new false leg that was dropped by arrangement over a Luftwaffe base in France so it could be given to disabled flying legend Douglas Bader, who was being held prisoner. Sq Ldr Joll died aged 57 in 1977. His widow passed away last year aged and now his medals are being auctioned by Spinks in London for an estimated £9,000 on April 23.
target: Ian Joll was a Squadron Leader who flew a Bristol Blenheim light bomber .
  Was shot down during strafing attack on German aircraft and crash landed .
  Joll was missing presumed dead, and his mother was sent a telegram .
  But minutes later he appeared at her front door after having survived the crash and made his way back to English shores to see his parents .