Personnel Index - Detail

Name
BETTINSON
First Names
Donald William
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1235499
Crew Position
Wireless operator/Air Gunner
Age
20
Date of Death
13/07/1943
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke
From the panel at Runnymede
 

The Runnymede image was created by artist Paul Reid using photographs taken by Jo Cockburn and Malcolm Brooke
 

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12/13 July, 1943; TURIN:

The allies war against the Italians was going very well. With extra pressure brought to bear by Bomber Command, it was hoped that Germany's ally would soon capitulate. Turin was selected for an attack by 295 Lancasters. The route took them well out into the Bay of Biscay and across Southern France thus avoiding heavily defended areas. Many crews reported heavy icing over France, and encountering thunder-clouds over the Alps. These long haul trips to Italy were not considered easy by crews and to prove the point 13 Lancasters failed to return. Among those missing was F/O John Millar and crew from 49 Squadron. Perhaps the raid three nights earlier had been an omen... ED726 with the Millar crew had been blasted by flak over Gelsenkirchen. It had been repaired just in time for them to take part in the Turin trip, the crew's fateful 13th operation. The crew have no known graves, but are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

Lancaster ED726 (EA-V)
F/O J.G. Millar AFM Pilot (Killed)
Sgt P. Goodyear F/E (Killed)
F/S J.W. Gillin RCAF NAV (Killed)
Sgt H.J. Read W/AG (Killed)
Sgt D.W. Bettinson A/G (Killed)
F/O G. Lockie B/A (Killed)
Sgt R. Burnett A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 13th operation

Extensive details of the Turin raid can be viewed by clicking this link. Please note that the new page contains almost 1mb of images and may take a little time to load.
 

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Spring 1943 with ED726

Back row (L to R):
Sgt Reg Burnett R/G KIA, Sgt Don Bettinson M/U KIA
F/O John Millar AFM pilot KIA, Sgt John Crabb NAV,
Sgt Phillips B/A KIA, Sgt Paul Goodyear F/E KIA.
Front row (L to R);
LAC Johnson, LAC Robertson, Sgt Freeman, LAC Sutcliffe,
LAC Copping, LAC Sugg