The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. S L Butterfield
Samuel Leslie Butterfield was born in Leeds on 8th July 1913, the son of Samuel Harold Butterfield (1886-??) and Evelyn Annie Butterfield (nee Redfearn 1889-??).
He was educated at Watford Boys Grammar School. He joined the RAF as an apprentice in September 1929 and later progressed to pilot training.
He married Dorothy Louise Hadfield in July 1936 in Watford.
He was serving with 213 Squadron in early 1940. On 17th May the squadron was sent to Merville in France and took part in defensive patrols, bomber escorts and army support operations until it was withdrawn on the 21st.
It continued to operate over France from Biggin Hill and in a period of several days Butterfield shared in the destruction of two Hs126s and a Do17.
On 28th May over Dunkirk 213 Squadron engaged a large enemy force. Butterfield shot down two Me109s and a Ju88. He was then attacked by a Me110 which he destroyed but his Hurricane suffered three more hits and was set on fire. He baled out and was picked up by a passing ship, the paddle steamer ‘Sundown’, which landed him at Margate.
Three days later Butterfield destroyed a Me109 and probably another. He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 14th June 1940).
He failed to return from a combat over Portland on 11th August 1940 in Hurricane P3789. His body was washed ashore on 22nd September 1940 at Plage Bellevue on the French coast and he is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Butterfield was 27 years old.
His Hurricane, P3789, was subsequently found on the seabed off Lulworth, Dorset.
B&W images above courtesy of Michael Longley.
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