Full medal write up
DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘938357 F. SGT. G. BUTTERFIELD. R.A.F.’
D.F.M. London Gazette 7 June 1942, the original citation states:
'In March 1942, Flight Sergeant Butterfield attacked an enemy merchant ship which was escorted by a destroyer and an enemy aircraft. Flight Sergeant Butterfield's aircraft was engaged by the enemy aircraft and in the ensuing combat which lasted for 15 minutes, the enemy's front gunner was silenced. Although Flight Sergeant Butterfield's aircraft was hit, he pressed home his bombing attack. This airman has previously bombed an enemy destroyer and attacked a float plane. For shadowing enemy warships under difficult circumstances, he was commended by the Commanding Officer of his Wing.'
Guy Butterfield was born at Grimsby on 25 July 1916, the son of John and Helena Butterfield. He was living at 36 Augusta Street, Grimsby on 11 July 1939 when he was awarded his aero club certificate (No. 19030). A Fish Buyer by trade, for Markham Cook Ltd, he enlisted into the Royal Air Force as an A.C. 2, on 9 October 1939 and mustered as ACH/Pilot that day. He married Joan Linda Smith at Grimsby Registry Office on 28 November 1939 and proceeded to train as a pilot. Promoted L.A.C. on 11 July 1940 and Sergeant on 13 November 1940, having passed his Flying Training Course in August, he continued advanced training at a number of establishments. On 5 May 1941 he joined 608 Squadron (Bristol Blenheim IV’s) but on 31 May was posted to HQ Middle East, joining 203 Squadron 10 days later. 203 Squadron, based at Kabrit, Egypt, were again equipped with Blenheim IVs, a versatile aircraft used by both Fighter and Bomber Commands. Over the next 18 months, Butterfield would serve with this squadron which roles were variously of a reconnaissance, bomber, coastal patrol and anti-submarine nature, its main area of operations being the Eastern Mediterranean and Crete.
Promoted Temporary Flight Sergeant on 1 August 1941, Butterfield would initially fly as an Observer with the squadron, taking part in his first sortie on 23 June 1941. On 28 August, his aircraft attacked an enemy submarine, machine gunning it at a height of just 150 feet before swinging round to drop its bombs just in front of the sub as it crash dived. No explosions were noted. On 17 October 1941, Butterfield flew his first patrol as pilot and would remain in this role for the rest of his service (bar the odd sortie). During his service, Squadron operational logs note Butterfield’s aircraft being involved in a large number of patrols and a number of attacks have been identified, including dive bombing Italian destroyers, a Strike on Italian MV and DS, whilst observer to his Wing Commander and a search to locate the Italian Fleet, as well as the actions for which he was recommended for the D.F.M. On 28 March 1942, his aircraft weas intercepted by an R.A.F. Sunderland that clearly thought their Blenheim was a German aircraft. After showing their markings, the Sunderland continued its pursuit for 10 minutes until the gunner of Butterfields aircraft fire several bursts at it!
Butterfield was Commissioned Pilot Officer on 6 June 1942, having started piloting Martin Maryland I’s that month. However his last operational sortie with the squadron appears to have been on 16 of June, by which time he had flown in the region of 80 Operational sorties.
On 28 July 1942, he was sent to A.D.U. and was further promoted Flying Officer on 6 December 1942. He briefly rejoined 203 Squadron in late January 1943 but on 24 February 1943 was posted as an instructor at 75 O.T.U. Advanced Flight Lieutenant on 6 June 1944, Butterfield joined 143 Coastal Strike Squadron on 21 June 1944. Equipped with the mighty Bristol Beaufighter (Mk X), flying out of Manston, Kent, the squadron were tasked with anti E-boat patrols on the eastern flanks of the naval corridor linking southern England to the D-Day beaches in Normandy…………
SEE PDF FOR FULL WRITE-UP
Condition GVF, sold together with copied research and digital copies of his service records and operational logs for both 203 and 143 Squadrons.
An extremely fine D.F.M. to Blenheim and Beaufighter Strike pilot.