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Churchill, Henry Dixie

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Personal Information

Rank F/L
Forename(s) Henry Dixie
Surname Churchill
Gender M
Age 29
Decorations DFC*
Date of Death 07-05-1944
Next of Kin Son of Willoughby Dixie Churchill and Kathleen Annie Churchill, of Stow, Norfolk.
CHURCHILL HD

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Avro Lancaster III
Serial Number ND449
Markings GT-M

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country France
Burial/Memorial Place Le Fidelaire Communal Cemetery
Grave Reference
Epitaph GREATER LOVE THAN THIS HATH NO MAN

IBCC Memorial Information

Phase 2
Panel Number 144

Enlistment Information

Service Number 124782
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 8
Squadron 156
Squadron Motto We light the way
Trade Pilot
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Other Memorials

Location On Grass Verge, Ramsey Rd, Upwood, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text From RAF Upwood, crews from 139 and 156 Sqns, No 8 Pathfinder Group marked targets for Bomber Command
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Location St. Mary Magdalene Church, Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Slate Tablet
Memorial Text We light the way" This tablet is placed in memory of Flight Lieutenant JL Sloper DFC and Bar, RAFVR. And in tribute to all who served with 156 Squadron Path Finders Force at RAF Warboys, 1942-1945, In gratitude.
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Location Tithe Farm, Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Brick Pillars and inscribed Metal Plaques
Memorial Text From this RAF Station Warboys 156 squadrons No 8 (PFF) group, marked targets for Bomber Command 1942-1944
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Miscellaneous Information

The four surviving crew members all successfully evaded capture
Acting Flight Lieutenant Henry Dixie CHURCHILL (124782), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 103 Squadron. One night in January, 1944, this officer was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Brunswick. When crossing the enemy coast on the outward journey, the aircraft was subjected to heavy fire from the ground defences. One of the engines was hit by shrapnel and it caught fire. The flames were extinguished but the engine was useless. Although some height was lost, Flight Lieutenant Churchill went on to the target and pressed home a vigorous and accurate bombing attack. This officer has completed many sorties against important and well defended targets and has invariably displayed great skill, courage and resolution
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. Acting Flight Lieutenant Henry Dixie CHURCHILL, D.F.C. (124782), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 156 Squadron. Distinguished Flying Medal. 1094376 ' Flight' Sergeant George MEER, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 156 Squadron. This officer and airman were pilot and flight engineer respectively of an aircraft which attacked Karlsruhe one night in April, 1944. Soon after the bombs had been released, the aircraft sustained damage to both wings, the flaps and one of the petrol tanks from which a considerable amount of the contents was lost and a fire started close to the rear turret. Flight Lieu tenant Churchill had great difficulty in maintaining control of the aircraft. Nevertheless, he continued to give directions for fighting the fire, a task which Flight Sergeant Meer gallantly attempted. The flames increased in intensity but, although distressed by petrol, fumes and deprived of the full use of oxygen, Flight Sergeant Meer worked unremittingly and finally succeeded in putting out the fire. After a hazardous flight, Flight Lieutenant Churchill eventually landed the badly damaged bomber at an airfield in England. He displayed skill, determination and devotion to duty beyond praise. Flight Sergeant Meer also proved himself to be a most dependable member of aircraft crew. His coolness and bravery in a trying situation set a fine example.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1042/10
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1042/9

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.

Foster J D (F/O)
Warren E F (F/O)

Last Operation Information

Start Date 06-05-1944
End Date 07-05-1944
Takeoff Station Upwood
Day/Night Raid Night (98% moon)
Operation Mantes la Jolie- to bomb railway installations. 149 aircraft claimed an accurate attack, although local reports state that portions of the town were hit with the church, the town hall and a school all being destroyed. 54 civilians were killed
Reason for Loss Crashed at le Fidelaire, France

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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.