WW2 War Veteran Casualty Details
I went to the Chester war memorial to find the name of my soldier to research on the commonwealth war graves website.
Name:
DUTTON, FREDERICK
Initials:
F
Nationality:
United Kingdom
Rank:
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text:
460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn
Age:
20
Date of Death:
17/02/1942
Service No:
1006728
Additional information:
Son of Ernest and Ellen Dutton, of Hoole, Chester.
Casualty Type:
Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:
Sec. F. Grave 161.
Cemetery:
CHESTER (OVERLEIGH) CEMETERY
My soldier was fighting in the Second World War on the British side. He was killed in action possibly shot down by a German as he was in the air force. He was not in the air force until the war started as it says he was in the Volunteers, he may have signed up in Chester after seeing the posters that were made to convince people to join. He was not a pilot but in fact a gunner so he may have been in a very large bomber such as the Bristol Blenheim, a popular fighter bomber. It was a very brave position because planes as big as this couldn't avoid smaller enemy fighter planes, so they needed gunners on the plane. It did not require as much skill as a pilot but was a very important part in the War, not only to protect bombers but also to protect their often precious load. The smaller fighter jets would often aim at the gunners so this soldier must have been very brave.