Butler, Reginald Eric
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Reginald Eric |
Surname | Butler |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-09-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | W4904 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. C. Row C. Grave 8. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 139 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1388968 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 1667 HCU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside location, Old Edlington, South Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial stone and inscribed marble tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen who lost their lives on the 28th September 1943 when their Lancaster Bomber W4904 from RAF Lindholme crashed near this village |
Location | Eastern end of former main runway, Faldingworth, Lincolnshire * PRIVATE PROPERTY * |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone sculpture and inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | 1667 HCU RAF 1943 To those who tyranny threatened flew from this runway, some never to return and to those who supported them on the ground, we remember you all |
Miscellaneous Information
Some sources say this aircraft crashed at Cockhill near Edlington, Doncaster and there is even a memorial to the aircraft at this location. However, there is a large body of evidence which proves that it crashed at the given location, including death certificates (the deaths being registered in Moor Monkton rural district, between York and Harrogate), the AIB report (which states that the crash site was Cockhill, 6 miles NNW of York), and the AM765c (which states that the crash was heard at RAF Marston Moor station). |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-09-1943 |
End Date | 28-09-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Faldingworth |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training- night navigation Bullseye exercise. Takeoff 2010 hrs |
Reason for Loss | Heard just after midnight by the Royal Observer Corps. approaching from the south, just west of York. This was the authorised course and correct time. A few minutes later the aircraft was heard descending at very high speed, apparently with the engines off. The aircraft struck the ground near Moor Monkton, between York and Harrogate, and flares were seen exploding at the crash site. The weather was said to be extremely bad, although it had been suitable at the place and time of departure. Later investigation showed that the aircraft had broken up in the air and had left a trail of wreckage some two miles long. The AIB report concluded that the aircraft's break up was a secondary effect of the loss of control, the primary cause most likely due to the adverse weather at the time. Lancasters were known to be vulnerable to break-up when accelerated to very high speeds. The relative inexperience of the pilot was also stated to be a possible factor- he had a little over 20 hours on type, of which approximately half was at night. |