Cotton, Leslie
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Leslie |
Surname | Cotton |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 27-04-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Joseph and Mary Cotton. Husband of Kathleen May Cotton, of Staple Hill, Gloucestershire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster l |
Serial Number | ME720 |
Markings | AS-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Switzerland |
Burial/Memorial Place | Vevey (St. Martin's) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 115. |
Epitaph | AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING I WILL REMEMBER HIM. LOVING WIFE KATHLEEN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 23 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1575755 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 166 |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of 166 Sqn Lancaster ME720 AS-X Kirmington lost 27/28 April 1944 |
Location | 6289 Hämikon, Lucerne Kantone |
Country | Switzerland |
Memorial Type | Inscribed memorial plaque |
Memorial Text |
Location | Terminal Building, Humberside Airport, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Air Ministry WWII Bell & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | To commemorate the aircrew of 166 Sqn RAF who were killed in action flying from RAF Kirmington during WW2 |
Location | Adjacent to Terminal Building, Humberside Airport, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Info Board & Inscribed Stone Monument |
Memorial Text | In memory of the aircrew from many nations who flew with 166 Sqn RAF who were killed in action flying from RAF Kirmington during WW2 |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Kirmington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorials to those who served on 166 Sqn flying from RAF Kirminton during WW2, including those who flew on Op MANNA |
Location | St. Helena's Church, Kirmington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Inscribed Metal Plaque & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | In memory of the members of 166 Sqn RAF who flew from RAF Kirmington during WW2 and did not return |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1089/33 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1089/32 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-04-1944 |
End Date | 28-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Kirmington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (29% moon) |
Operation | Friedrichshafen |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 0240 at Hitzkirch-Hamikon in Switzerland. |