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REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR

In Memory of
Pilot Officer BRIAN LEONARD BUTLER
429992, 192 Sqdn, Royal New Zealand Air Force

Who died age 21 on 09 February 1945
Son of Joseph Butler and of Mary Butler nee Fabish, of Huirangi, Waitara, Taranaki , New Zealand.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Name:
BUTLER, BRIAN LEONARD
Initials:
B. L.
Nationality:
New Zealand
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service:
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Unit Text:
192 Sqdn.
Age:
21
Date of Death:
09/02/1945
Service No:
429992
Additional information:
Son of Joseph Butler and of Mary Butler (nee Fabish), of Huirangi, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Casualty Type:
Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial:
Panel 285.
Memorial:
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL    Google Map
Crew
Age
Force
Commemoration/Grave
F/Sgt RD Mitcheson 1592400Wireless Operator
20
RAFVR
Runnymede Panel 276 Surrey UK
F/Sgt DW Webb 1187233 Bomb Aimer
29
RAFVR
Esbjerg (Fourfelt), Denmark Cemetery Plot A, Row 13, Grave 9
Sgt EAE Tucker 1852712 Mid-Upper Gunner
19
RAFVR
Runnymede Panel 277 Surrey UK
Sgt BF Woods 1881002 Rear Gunner
20
RAFVR
Husby Churchyard , Denmark
Sgt KG Cheshire 1591797Flight Engineer
19
RAFVR
Runnymede Panel 274 Surrey UK
F/O N Burrows 51119 Special Operator
29
RAFVR
Runnymede Panel 265 Surrey UK
P/O BL Butler 429992 Pilot
21
RNZF
Runnymede Panel 285 Surrey UK
F/O DPM Finnigan 176001 Navigator
23
RAFVR
Runnymede Panel 266 Surrey UK

BOMBER COMMAND CREWS CONSISTED OF MANY NATIONALITIES

Specific units were formed to accommodate Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders, and such units as 460 Sqdn RAAF, 75 Sqdn RNZAF (Raymond Butler's Squadron), and 428 Sqdn RCAF etc sprang into existence, however many men like Brian served in RAF units.

Many Poles joined the RAF. The Poles operated with great determination in such Squadrons as 300, 301 and 302. Many Poles also flew on "Special Duties" flights, dropping arms and agents into occupied territory.

Pilots, navigators and bomb aimers took two years to train and were drawn from the University and Grammar Schools. So Brian did well it was pointed out to some of the other lads in training in NZ that how could Brian who had just come from a turnip field put them all to shame. Under the (Pilot/Navigator/ Bomb Aimer) scheme, most were trained in Canada (Brian trained in the UK). RAF airmen were trained alongside US airmen despite, at that time, the US not being involved in the war.

Everyone wanted to be a pilot and those who failed the aptitude and preliminary flying tests were retrained as navigators and bomb aimers. Air-gunners, flight engineers and wireless operators were trained in about nine months

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