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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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74 Squadron Crest
25.02.1945 No 74 Squadron Spitfire LF.IX PV311 W/O. Butler

Operation: Armed Recconaisance

Date: 25th February 1945 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 74 Squadron - 2nd Tactical Air Force (145 Wing, 84 Group)

Type: Spitfire LF.IX

Serial: PV311

Code: 4D-?

Base: Schijndel Airfield, Netherlands

Location: No precise location

Pilot: W/O. Ivan William Butler NZ/422257 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from Schijndel Airfield in the Netherlands at 08:30 hrs on an armed recconaisance in support of allied ground troops. Understood to have been shot down after an attack on a train. The pilot is understood to have been recovered by a USA medical unit and then transferred to the 24 evacuation hospital in Brandenburg.

Sadly the pilot died the following day from his injuries. Initially buried at the American Military Cemetery at Margaten, then re-interred in Nederweert War Cemetery.

Burial details:

W/O. Ivan William Butler. Nederweert War Cemetery. Grave IV.D.5. Son of Henry and Maud Butler, of Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. 645 hours flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Errol Martyn and his research, Auckland Cenotaph and Weekly News, New Zealand. Other sources as quoted below:

KTY - 24.08.2017

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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