Base; Thorney Island
Take off time: Unknown.
Op; Strike Caen Airfield
BETTIS Leonard E.(900253) Sergeant 59 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 28th August 1940 Age 20 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY
Originally lived at Theydon Mount. His mother died when he was 4 years old. In 1935 he and his sister Mary went to live with his aunt and uncle, Mr & Mrs G Perry, in St John’s Road, Epping. He worked as a carpenter for Mr B Cable before joining the RAF in July 1939. He was killed on 28th August 1940 when his Bristol Blenheim bomber crashed in fog in England after a raid on occupied France. He had celebrated his 20th birthday the day before his death. The funeral was held at St John’s Church on Tuesday 3rd September. The service was conducted during an air-raid warning. source
Flew into the ground near Littlehampton, Sussex when returning from Caen at 2015 hrs. Six Blenheims of 59 Sqn were detailed for a night attack to hit Caen airfield. They scored hits on hangars and caused fires.
 | Crew awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp - Although entitlement was revoked by the Air Ministry in 1960 (read more) |
All lost:
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During WWII, the RAF used three-letter codes to identify their aircraft from a distance. Two large letters were painted before the roundel, which signified the squadron to which the aircraft belonged, and another letter was painted after the roundel which indicated the individual aircraft. Aditionally, there was the individual serial number for each aircraft, which was painted in a much smaller size, usually somewhere at the rear of the aircraft: (more)
Codes used by RAF 59 Squadron:
PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950