Bottomley, Handel
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Handel |
Surname | Bottomley |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EH875 |
Markings | LS-S |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 4. F. 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 133 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1256133 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 15 (XV) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of St. John, Beck Row, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on rear external wall of Church |
Memorial Text | In remembrance of all who served at RAF Mildenhall and associated aerodromes in the cause of freedom, 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Aircraft nickname: Thornaby-on-Tees. The town's Wings for Victory campaign collected some £100920 and was used to purchase this aircraft and a further seven Spitfires |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/64 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/203/63 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Mildenhall |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed near Döberitz, Germany |