Burt, Harry Leister
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Harry Leister |
Surname | Burt |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry and Bertha Burt. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BK663 |
Markings | BU-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Haverhill Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. U. Grave 196. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 139 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 411789 |
Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 214 (Federated Malay States) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Monument with Inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In memory and honour of the Royal Air Force and Polish Air Force Squadrons who were based at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Plaques and RoH within wooden case |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and scroll remembering the members of the Royal and Polish Air Forces who served at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Miscellaneous Information
Most of the crew of EF362 baled out. The pilot (F/O W G Cooper) stayed with his craft and died in the resulting crash. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-03-1943 |
End Date | 30-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Chedburgh |
Day/Night Raid | Night (40% moon) |
Operation | Mine laying off Texel using a new type of mine. The crew had been instructed not to drop these mines unless they were absolutely sure they were correctly over the target, in order that they did not fall into enemy hands. |
Reason for Loss | Returned with the mines since they had been unable to positively locate the target due to fog. Collided with another aircraft (Short Stirling EF362) while in the circuit, losing their rear tail plane and rear gun turret. The aircraft went into a steep dive but the Pilot and Air Bomber worked together to crash-landed the aircraft even though the airfield had put up a red flare to instruct them not to land. A loose flare ignited on landing and caused a fire but the remaining crew made an orderly escape. The rear gunner was found the following morning, still in his turret, by a farmer's daughter. |