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Chapman, Leslie Died

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Personal Information

Rank F/S
Forename(s) Leslie
Surname Chapman
Gender M
Age 23
Decorations CGM
Date of Death 01-02-1945
Next of Kin Son of Ernest and Eva Ellen Chapman, of Moulton Washway.
CHAPMAN L

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Avro Lancaster I
Serial Number NF912
Markings QR-L

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country United Kingdom
Burial/Memorial Place Whaplode Cemetery
Grave Reference Grave 1391A.
Epitaph IN THE HOUR OF NEED HIS BEST HE GAVE AND DIED FOR THOSE HE TRIED TO SAVE

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 19
CHAPMAN L

Location

Row -
Panel 19
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 1
Panel Number 19

Enlistment Information

Service Number 1576762
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 5
Squadron 61
Squadron Motto Per puram tonantes (Thundering through the clear air)
Trade WOp/AG
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Other Memorials

Location Birchwood Way, Birchwood Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Brick Memorial & Inscribed Marble Obolisk
Memorial Text To the memory of the Air Crews and Ground Staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron, 5 group, Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945. No 50 Squadron "From defence to attack" Operated from Waddington, Lindholme, Swinderby and Skellingthorpe. This stone was dedicated on 10th June 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the formations of No 50 squadron in May 1916, No 61 squadron in July 1917. The Royal Air Force in April 1918. Stranger pause a while and pray for your tomorrow we gave our today
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Location Memorial Gardens, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Brick Memorial with Inscribed Marble Stone
Memorial Text Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe. My brief sweet life is over, My eyes no longer see, No Christmas Trees, No summer walks, No pretty girls for me, I've got the chop - I've had it, My nightly ops are done, Yet in another 100 years I'll still be twenty one. R.W. Gilbert. This memorial was erected by the people of this parish in grateful remembrance of the airmen and women of the Royal Air Force and other allied forces who served at R.A.F. Skellingthorpe within the parish 1941-1945
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Location In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture
Country France
Memorial Type Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque
Memorial Text En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-636
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-636"
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Location Lincoln County Hospital Chapel, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text In memory of Officers, NCO's & Other Ranks of 5 (Bomber) Group RAF who gave their lives Sept 1939 - May 1945
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Miscellaneous Information

S/L Horsley and Sgt. R. T. Hoskisson (the latter being the only survivor of this incident) had returned to the squadron at the end of October 1944 after successfully evading capture following being shot down in the Netherlands on 23-24 September 1944.
His CGM (Flying) was promulgated in the London Gazette on 9 May 1944. Citation: "This officer [referring to Pilot Officer Desmond Clayton FREEMAN, who was awarded the DFC] and airman were pilot and wireless operator respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Nuremberg one night in March, 1944. During the operation the aircraft was attacked by a fighter. It was driven off but shortly afterwards two more enemy aircraft attacked. Before they also were driven off the bomber had sustained, much damage. The starboard wing, the flaps and the undercarriage nacelle were all hit by bullets. The mid-upper and front turrets were damaged. The windscreen was shattered and other parts of the airframe were shot away. Four members of the crew were wounded. Most of the navigational equipment was useless but course was set for home. Sergeant Chapman had been wounded in the back, neck and head but .bravely remained at his post obtaining fixes which were of inestimable value in establishing the aircraft's position at various stages on the return flight. Finally the English coast was reached and Pilot Officer Freeman landed the aircraft safely although a tyre on one of the landing wheels had been punctured. Pilot Officer Freeman displayed great skill, courage and determination throughout; Sergeant Chapman also proved himself to be a gallant member of aircraft crew. It was not until the aircraft had been safely landed that he informed his captain of his wounds. He set a splendid example".

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/580/4
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/580/4

Fellow Servicemen

Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.

Name Outcome
Fleet S (F/S) Died
Horsley H W (S/L) Died
Merrow V D (F/S) Died
Pyke H J (W/O) Died
Sherriff A A (F/S) Died

Last Operation Information

Start Date 01-02-1945
End Date 02-02-1945
Takeoff Station Skellingthorpe
Day/Night Raid Night (80% moon)
Operation Siegen
Reason for Aircraft Loss Port engine cut on take off. Skilfully, S/L Horsley force landed on airfield but aircraft exploded.

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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.