John Dering Nettleton
John Dering Nettleton | |
---|---|
Natal Province, South Africa | |
Died | 13 July 1943 near Brest, France | (aged 26)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1938–1943 |
Rank | Squadron leader |
Unit | |
Battles/wars | Second World War
|
Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
John Dering Nettleton,
Early life
Born on 28 June 1917 in
Second World War
Commissioned in the
In 1942 a daylight bombing mission was planned by RAF Bomber Command against the MAN U-boat engine plant in Augsburg in Bavaria, responsible for the production of half of Germany's U‑boat engines. It was the first major mission flown using the new Avro Lancaster, a four engine bomber with tremendous lift, great range, and a heavy defensive armament. It would be the longest low‑level penetration raid made during the course of the Second World War.[4] Nettleton was nearing the end of his first tour, and was placed in command of the mission. The operation would require the force to fly at very low level to avoid detection from German radar. To prepare for the raid the two squadrons committed were pulled out of the bombing campaign against Germany to practice low level formation flying.[5]: 60
The
Squadron Leader Nettleton was the leader of one of two formations of six Lancaster heavy bombers detailed to deliver a low-level attack in daylight on the diesel engine factory at Augsburg in Southern Germany on April 17th, 1942. The enterprise was daring, the target of high military importance. To reach it and get back, some 1,000 miles had to be flown over hostile territory. Soon after crossing into enemy territory his formation was engaged by 25 to 30 fighters. A running fight ensued. His rear guns went out' of action. One by one the aircraft of his formation were shot down until in the end only his own and one other remained. The fighters were shaken off but the target was still far distant. There was formidable resistance to be faced.
With great spirit and almost defenseless, he held his two remaining aircraft on their perilous course and after a long and arduous flight, mostly at only 50 feet above the ground, he brought them to Augsburg. Here anti-aircraft fire of great intensity and accuracy was encountered. The two aircraft came low over the roof tops. Though fired at from point blank range, they stayed the course to drop their bombs true on the target. The second aircraft, hit by flak, burst into flames and crash-landed. The leading aircraft, though riddled with holes, flew safely back to base, the only one of the six to return.
Squadron Leader Nettleton, who has successfully undertaken many other hazardous operations, displayed unflinching determination as well as leadership and valour of the highest order."[8]
On the night of 12/13 July 1943, Bomber Command put in a raid of 295 Lancasters against
At about 6:30 am the group of Lancasters with Nettleton were intercepted by German day fighters that had been scrambled from their base south of Brest. Among the Lancaster losses from the mission, three aircraft were known to have been shot down over the Bay of Biscay, while six more were lost without a trace.[11] Nettleton and his crew were among the losses. Their bodies were never recovered. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.[12]
Legacy
Following the war the government of Southern Rhodesia named a new school after Squadron Leader Nettleton: Nettleton Junior School, Braeside, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (present-day
On 2 March 1994, a Junior Rank accommodation block was formally opened at RAF Shawbury under the name of Nettleton. A commemorative plaque is located inside detailing Nettleton's life and service.
References
- ^ "The Legend Lives on John Dering Nettleton 1931/32 #573" (PDF). General Botha Old Boys' Association Newsletter: 6. May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2007.
- ^ "The Nettleton Presentation". Old Wetpups. March 2007.
- ^ "Nettleton profile". generalbotha.co.za. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "Squadron Leader J.D. Nettleton profile". nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ISBN 9781852603083.
- ^ Chanter, Alan. "Profile of John Dering Nettleton, VC". ww2db.com. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ "No. 35539". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 April 1942. p. 1851.
- ^ "Nettleton, John Dering". TracesOfWar. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "Low level Lancaster raid on Augsberg". World War II Today. 17 April 2017. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Bradfield, Leonard (Oral history)". Imperial War Museum. 10 September 1998. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ Arthy, Andrew (12 July 2007). "Death of Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton, VC". The Scale modeler's information site. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ "Wing Commander John Dering Nettleton – War Casualty Details". CWGC.org. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
External links
- "Portrait and short biography of Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton, VC". alliedairforcesmonument.org. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
- "The Augsberg Raid – Official RAF history". raf.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013.