In Memory Of

RUSSELL, JOHN

Service Details
Age:
 34
Date of Birth:
 1910-06-10
Service No:
 80195
Rank:
 Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
 150 Sqdn.
Regiment:
 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death:
 1944-09-17
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, Wellington BX LP730, took off from Regina to bomb marshalling yards at Bresica near Lake Garda. Aircraft was loaded with 9 SBCs (small bomb containers), each carrying approx. 50 x 4lb incendiary bombs. Plan was to drop high explosive bombs, then incendiary bombs. Squadron Ops Book records: "Not heard of after take off". Squadron Gunnery Leader reported: at 21.00 hours at a height of 5? feet, heading 13 3 degrees at position 44.55N 11.16, after leaving the target, yellowish white fighter flares were observed on the port beam at about 800yds away. Pilot immediately turned to starboard and resumed course. Shortly afterwards, an explosion in the sky was seen which was suggestive of an aircraft disintegrating and falling to the ground on fire. It burned green and red for a while afterwards
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 VI. A. 12.
Cemetery:
 PADUA WAR CEMETERY
Country:
 Italy
Additional Information
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Russell; husband of Dorothy Isabel Joy Russell (nee Gliddon), of Cape Town, South Africa. Entered Milner House in January 1929. He passed his Junior Certificate in 1932, was appointed a House Prefect in 1934, lance-corporal in the Cadet Corps; School 2nd Rugger XV, 1934; and he took a keen interest in dramatics, appearing in four school performances. He left Plumtree in December 1934. On Plumtree School Roll of Honour