500526 Flt Lt Neville George Richardson Booth Royal Air Force pilot 20 O.T.U. from:Denshaw, Yorkshire. (d.18th May 1942) My uncle Flt Lt. Neville George Richardson Booth a pilot, flew during WWII in 15 Squadron, RAF. Tragically he stepped in to assist in a mission over Denmark and was killed in action.
My father was born 15 days before Neville died and was due to be christened Nicholas, but the family were so distraught over the death of Neville that they christened my father Neville out of respect for Neville.
I did have the privilege of meeting and spending many summers with his brother, Kenneth E. R. Booth who was also a Pilot and Navigator and we are trying to locate his Squadron and Airfield. But we have some way to go yet. Squadron Leader Kenneth Edward Richardson Booth (DFC), was a pilot like his brother but he often flew as the navigator. Ken’s missions were mostly in Mosquito’s; any information anyone may have would be gratefully received.
The crew were:
- F/O Ryan
- S/L J.C.Hall DFC MiD
- F/L N.G.R.Booth
- Sgt A.Spriggs
- F/O J.P.Ryan RCAF
- Sgt R.Maycock
- Sgt J.B.Butterworth
- Sgt F.L.Sharp
- Sgt R.Nicholson
- Sgt D.J.Jeffs, the only survivor was taken PoW and held in Stalag 8b.
Update: F/L Booth was a not a member of 15 Sqdn. It was said that he had been visiting Wyton and, on impulse, had asked to join the crew. But, Sgt Jeff's son tells us that F/Lt Booth was assigned to W7531 for that flight, not as a guest on impulse, but as an official observer of the new GEE Radar System. The rest of the crew were forbidden to talk about this late entry.
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