Raymond Edward Norton Butcher
From Our Contribution
in RAAF Uniform as Flight Sergeant | |
in Militia uniform of Sergeant, 16th Battalion Cameron Highlanders. | |
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 25 Oct 1917 |
Place of Birth | Katanning, Western Australia |
Death | 21 Sep 1942 |
Place of Death | Denmark |
Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 4 months |
Description |
5'5½ (1.66m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; medium complexion ; hazel eyes ; dark brown hair |
Occupation | Accounts clerk |
Religion | Church of England |
Address | 'Buena Park', Bunbury road, Armadale, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Edward Butcher |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 406638 |
Date of Enlistment | 3 Mar 1941 (26 Aug 1940) |
Rank | Flying Officer |
Unit/Formation | No. 101 Squadron RAF |
Military Movement | |
1st Departure from Australia | |
Journey Dates | 13 Nov 1941 |
Transfers | |
Journey Dates | 13 Dec 1941 Canada |
Post War Details | |
Fate | Killed during a flying battle over southern Denmark. |
Australian War Memorial | Australian War Memorial |
Medals |
1939-45 Star Air Crew Europe Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Original enlistment was with the Army CMF in the 16th Battalion Cameron Highlanders.
Ray enlisted in the RAAF on 3 Apr 1941 at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre as an A C II Aircrew ]]No. 5 ITS]] Pearce 3 Mar - 3 Apr 1941 29 Mar 1941 Promoted LAC No. 1 W.A.G.S. Ballarat3 Apr - 25 Aug 1941 No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie 25 Aug - 17 Oct 1941 - remustered Sergeant Air Gunner. 19 Oct 1941 discharged in order to become a commissioned officer (Pilot Officer Air Gunner) from 20 Oct 1941 No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF Perth 27 Oct 1941 6 days pre-embarkation leave 19 - 25 Jun 1941 No. 2 Embarkation Depot Sydney 10 - 12 Nov 1941 Embarked in Sydney on 13 Nov 1941, disembarked in UK on 26 Dec 1941 via Canada No. 3 PRC 26 Dec 1941 - 20 Feb 1942 No. 7 AGS on 21 Feb 1942 - 15 Apr 1942 (Stormy Down??) No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF 16 Apr 1942 - 28 Jun 1942. Promoted Flying Officer on 20 Apr 1942 No 101 Squadron RAF 29 Jun 1942, while with the 101st Squadron he had leave from 14 - 20 Sep 1942
Trained with the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) in Canada and Britain.
Missing West Australian 17 Oct 1942; presumed dead West Australian 19 May 1943 Location of crash was in the sea off the coast of Denmark.
Aabenraa is a town on the south-east Jutland coast about 25 kilometres north of the German border.
Notes
Raymond was a member of the crew of a Vickers Wellington bomber X3815 from No. 101 Squadron RAF that was lost during an operation on 21 Sep 1942. The plane crashed in Denmark following an attack by a German night fighter. At the time of his death the Squadron was operating from RAF Stradishall. By the end of the war in Europe, the squadron had sustained 1,176 aircrew killed and it had lost 146 aircraft (including 33 in accidents).