Clayton, Bernard William "Bunny"
- Date of death:
- 1951
- Service number:
- 998503 (NCO)/143380 (Officer)
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Educated at King James's between 1931 and 1938.
During WW2 he was a bomber pilot.
After the war he flew with transport Command and flew 94 sorties in the Berlin Airlift. After qualifying as a test pilot he was killed in a flying accident in 1951.
Promotions:
? Temporary Warrant Officer
18 January, 1943: Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency)
18 July, 1943: Flying Officer on Probation (war sub)
18January, 1945: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
23August, 1946: Flight Lieutenant (substantive) (seniority 18 juli )1946
16 November, 1948: Appointment to commission as Flight Lieutenant (permanent)
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Warrant Officer
- Unit:
- No. 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- April 20th, 1943
"W/O. Clayton is an outstanding operational pilot who has completed many raids on such targets as Hamburg, Kiel, Bremen, and Dusseldorf.
In January, 1942, when detailed to attack Hamburg, the weather was most adverse, but W/O. Clayton continued on his way. A secondary target was eventually bombed, but only when the rear turret had become unserviceable and the inside of the pilot's cockpit was covered with frost."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Warrant Officer
- Unit:
- No. 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- June 11th, 1943
"During the course of two operational tours, Warrant Officer Clayton has participated in attacks on the enemy’s most heavily defended and long distance targets, including Hamburg, Berlin and Turin. He has always pressed home his attacks in a fearless and determined manner and has secured some excellent photographs."
Originally recommended for a Bar to DFC, having flown 51 sorties, 9 May 1941 to 16 April 1943 but changed by Air Vice Marshal C.R. Carr, AOC of No. 4 Group into a CGM.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Acting Flight Lieutenant
- Unit:
- No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- September 26th, 1944
"Flight Lieutenant Clayton has completed a large number of sorties as captain of aircraft. Throughout, he has displayed courage, devotion to duty and gallantry of a very high order. His successes have been proved by the many excellent photographs he has obtained."
Sources
- - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36017/supplement/2202
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35983/supplement/1799
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36051/supplement/2679
- Page 3827 | Supplement 36148, 24 August 1943 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36718/supplement/4442
- Page 815 | Supplement 36930, 6 February 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- Page 1546 | Supplement 38223, 27 February 1948 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- Page 4053 | Supplement 38695, 23 August 1949 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- Flight Magazine, May 27th, 1943
- RAF Commands – The meeting place for RAF Researchers
Photo
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