I have been looking through some old photos of my wife's family and saw a picture of William Heap Butterworth born 7 November 1923 in Sandbach Cheshire (the photo shows the name Bill Butterworth). He is in RAF Uniform, I think he is a F/Sgt Pilot and it shows some medal ribbons. I think his serial number 1474220 and he possibly joined in 1941. Can anybody give me any information on him?
Hi write to the mod for £30 they will supply full service details The medal office will give you his full entitlement free of charge Regards James
In the interim: That's an officer's number, so he'll have had a different number as an NCO if he served during the war (don't know if that changed post-war, though?). Weirdly though, a nominal roll of 112 Sqdn gives him as Flight Sergeant but with that number. It also says he came to 112 from 213 Sqdn in Sept 1945 (aircraft code AK) They flew Hurricanes, Spitfires then Mustangs, based in the Middle East post-Battle of Britain. All this I got when I Googled "Butterworth RAF 1474220" - alas, can't link on this phone, sorry. I also got entries in the London Gazette 30/12/1948 for his commissioning as Pilot Officer; 26/07/1949 for his commissioning as Flying Officer in the Education Branch; also 08/07/1952 for his promotion from to Flight Lieutenant. Cheers, Pat Edit: there's another LG entry for his retirement as F/Lt in 1963.
Pat I think he was a fighter pilot. He seems to have become an officer after the war. He was promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer after the war (London Gazette). He also worked in the Education Branch, then moved to a fighter control role later in his career according to the London Gazette. I have looked him up in the Gazette and have seen his officer promotions. So I think his war service was as an NCO.
William Heap Butterworth 1922–2010 BIRTH 7 NOV 1922 • Sandbach DEATH 10 OCT 2010 • Sheffield, Yorkshire, England If you are applying for his service records you might need this info England and Wales, Death Index, 2007-2017 Name: Mr William Heap Butterworth Gender: Male Age: 85 Birth Date: 7 Nov 1923 Death Date: 6 Jan 2008 Last Residence: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England Postal Code District: S20 TD
Nominal Roll 1939 -1945 112 Squadron RAF: Butterworth (Fit Sgt ) - William H - 1474220 - 26/9/45 - 20/6/46 - "Came from 213 Sqdn" 213 Squadron - Pilots - The Middle East, 1945-1954: Butterworth W H, Flt Sgt