The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D R Fawcett

Derek Richard Fawcett was born in Woolwich on 9th August 1920, the son of Richard Henry and Dorothy Mary Fawcett (nee Boyle).

He joined the RAFVR about August 1939 as an Airman u/t WOp/AG.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his gunnery training and joined 29 Squadron at Wellingore on 5th October 1940.

He flew his first operational sortie on the 10th and remained with 29 Squadron until 1st February 1941 by which time 29 was operating almost exclusively with Beaufighters and its air gunners were gradually being posted away.

He joined 9 (BAT) Flight in early February 1941 and later went to 75 Squadron at Mildenhall, operating Wellingtons.

Fawcett was killed on operations on the night of 15th September 1941. His Wellington, X9759, failed to return from a night operation to Hamburg.

The other crew were:

P/O HM Aitchison RCAF KIA
Sgt. AHR Hawkins RNZAF KIA
Sgt. JG Foulkes KIA
Sgt. RB Blakeway RNZAF PoW
Sgt. WE Mullins PoW

Fawcett is buried in Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Germany. For some reason his initials on the headstone are shown as DP.

Above image courtesy of Dark Poet.