Dennis Buttery

RNAS Inskip (HMS Nightjar), Lancashire, was a wartime airfield between Preston and Blackpool for training anti-submarine and two-seat strike crews. It was commissioned on 15 May 1943.

Dennis, a wireless operator/air gunner, served with 747 Naval Air Squadron, a Fleet Air Arm Naval Air Squadron, which was formed in March 1943 and became an Operation Training Unit. The squadron moved to HMS Nightjar in the July becoming part of No. 1 Naval Operational Training Unit. Operated various aircraft including the Fairey Barracuda Mk II torpedo and dive bomber (March 1943-December 1945). The Squadron was disbanded in December 1945.

Dennis was killed on 20 December 1943 on a training flight in a Barracuda II (P9828) which 'crashed into high ground at Skelwith Bridge near Coniston, Cumberland, when the aircraft lost the rest of a formation during a night flight'. Also killed were S/Lt (A) RNVR, Gordon Frederick Hopwell RNVR, pilot, and T/Acting Sub Lieutenant (A) William Herbert Rostron Young RNVR, observer. (See 'Extra information')

He is buried in Ruddington (Vicarage Lane) Cemetery, Nottinghamshire (Sec. B. Grave 91).

Also killed were:

CWGC 2703574. Sub-Lieutenant (A) Gordon Frederick Hopewell RNVR, HMS Nightjar d. 20 December 1943. Commemorated Nottingham Crematorium (Panel 3). Son of Fred and Phoebe May Elizabeth Hopewell of Wollaton. (See record on this Roll of Honour)

CWGC 2699075. Sub Lieutenant (A) William Herbert Rostron Young RNVR, HMS Nightjar d. 20 December 1943 age 19. Buried Inskip (St Peter) Churchyard (Sec. P. Grave 16) Son of Charles Lawrence Rostron Young and Lilian Alice Young of Bath, Somerset.

www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk) Extract: 'During the night of 20th December 1943 the crew of this aircraft were flying low in the Lake District, the aircraft had just flown the full length of Coniston Water with its navigation and landing lights on and was seen to pass over Coniston village heading north-east. Little else about the incident is known other than the aircraft had just made a climbing turn to starboard when it flew into rising ground, narrowly missing farm buildings, hit a drystone wall and exploded. The aircraft was completely destroyed and the crew of three sadly killed. The crew were attached to HMS Nightjar which was based the Fleet Air Arm airfield of RNAS Inskip in Lancashire.' website includes a photograph of the crash area.

CWGC Additional information: Son of Stanley and Gladys Hilda Buttery, of Ruddington.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 23 December 1943: ‘Buttery. Dennis. Leading Airman Fleet Air Arm. Deeply loved son of Mr and Mrs Buttery, 65 Clifton-road, Ruddington. Service Ruddington Methodist Church, Friday, 2.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 20 December 1945: ‘Buttery (Dennis). Loving, sad, but very proud thoughts are mingled in our memories of ou, our dearly-loved son.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 20 December 1946 ‘Buttery. Dennis. LA Fleet Air Arm and the crew. Proud and treasured memories of our dear son. Mun, dad and Derrick.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Also notices 20 December 1947 and 21 December 1948.