Operation: Training

Date: 18th June 1942 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 58 Operational Training Unit

Type: Spitfire IIb

Serial: P8644

Base: RAF Grangemouth, Scotland.

Location: Bogside, Clackmannanshire, Scotland

Pilot: P/O. William Manley Butler J/10151 RCAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a training exercise P/O. Butler took avoiding action against a possible collision. During the manoeuvre he dived steeply and as he tried to level out a wing became detached, P8644 crashed at Bogside, Clackmannanshire and burnt out.

Earned his wings at the No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands, Ontario Canada on course number 41 October 25th, 1941 - January 16th, 1942, prior to joining 58 OTU for final conversion training on the Spitfire.

Course 22A 58 OTU, Grangemouth, Scotland. Front row: P/O Smith K.J., P/O. Draper G.C., Fl/Lt. McCarthy-Jones C.C., P/O. Draper J.W.P., P/O. Hawkins J.B., P/O. Dunn P.H.

Centre Row: P/O. King R.L.(1), P/O. Stevenson A.G., P/O. Winchester A.G., P/O. Ernst J.D.(2), P/O. Glenwright G.E.(3), P/O. Spretzel J.R.

Rear Row: F/O. Strozak R.P.(4), P/O. Ellington P.M.A. P/O. Holmes H.C.H. P/O. Butler W.M., P/O. Falls T.M.(5), P/O. Peppler G.E., P/O. Chandler R.J., P/O. Podobinski S.(6) - see notes below.

Note: Spitfire P8644 was built at the Castle Bromwich aircraft factory and fitted with the Merlin XII engine.

Burial Details:

P/O. William Manley Butler. Grangemouth Cemetery. Sec 1. Grave 26. Son of William Alexander Butler and Lola Butler, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Also commemorated in the family grave at Park Lawn Cemetery, Toronto, Canada.

His grave reads: 'A Well Beloved And Only Son, His Spirit is in Canada - His Soul With God.'

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to the following for information, the Grangemouth Air Cadets and the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust who provided me with so much information and assistance during my visit, Les Allison and Harry Hayward - 'They Shall Grow Not Old'.

Notes on photograph: (1) Further research continues but we think this is F/O. Richard Lander King RAFVR of 122 Squadron, killed on the 2nd December 1942, (2) Fairly sure that this is P/O. Jack Douglas Ernst RCAF of 276 Squadron killed on 24th August 1942, (3) This could be F/O. George Edward Glenwright RCAF of 152 Squadron, killed 28th December 1942, (4) F/O. Strozak PAF killed on the 20th November 1942 whilst serving with 65 Squadron, (5) Fairly sure that this is F/O. Tom Montgue Falls RCAF killed on 17th January 1943 whilst with 111 Squadron, (6) P/O. Podobinski PAF killed on the 12th December 1943 serving with 303 Squadron. Research continues....but if you are able to add further information we would be pleased to hear from you.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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