Fred Berry

Flt.Sgt. Fred Berry. DFM., Boulogne 1940

Berry received his DFM for coming to the aid of the troopship, Lancastria. The Lancastria was sunk by Luftwaffe aircraft, off the French coast near Boulogne, with great loss of life. 1 Squadron., RAF. was based in France at that time.

Name: BERRY, FREDERICK GEORGE
Initials: F G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 1 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 01/09/1940
Service No: 563426
Awards: DFM
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. G.5. Grave 92.
Cemetery: HARROW (PINNER) NEW CEMETERY

On 1st September 1940 Fred Berry was flying a Hurricane of 1 Squadron based at RAF Station Northholt. he was involved in a dogfight with Bf-109's, and was shot down and killed in Hurricane P3276, crashing at Brisley Farm, Ruckinge. He is buried at Pinner New Cemetary, Harrow, Middlesex.

Fred Berry therefore, is "One of The Few" that is, a pilot who fought in The Battle of Britain.

An extract from:-

Men of The Battle of Britain . Kenneth G. Wynn. 1992.

FREDERICK GEORGE BERRY

663426 - Ft/Sgt - BRITISH - Pilot - 1 Squadron

Born on January 4 1914 at Fort William, Calcutta, Berry was the son of a physical training instructor of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Mr Berry took up a post at the Victoria Boys' School, set up in the hills to provide an English public school style of education for children with a British background.

Berry was educated at the school. Mr Berry successfully applied for him to become an aircraft apprentice in the RAF and Berry sailed for England. reporting to No 1 S of TT, ( School of Technical Training ), Halton on August 27 1929. On completion of the course Berry passed out as an AC 1 Master Rigger on August 19 1932. He was then posted to 5 FTS, Sealand, was promoted to LAC on August 1933 and on March 27 1934 he went to `C" Flight, 24 Squadron at Hendon.

On January 21 1935 Berry returned to RAF Halton for further training and was remustered as a Fitter 1 on May 11 1936 . He had volunteered for pilot training, was selected and on July 6 1936 Berry was posted to No 1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge, moving to 9 FTS, Thornaby on the 18th for flying training. On completion of the course Berry was posted to 43 Squadron at Tangmere on February 21 1937, as a Sergeant Pilot.

Berry joined No 1 Squadron on August 29 1939 and went with it to France at the outbreak of war. Promoted to Flight Sergeant on April 1 1940, he was with the squadron throughout the fighting in May and June. On No 1's final operational patrol in France on June 17 Berry was leading a section over the docks at St Nazaire, when He 111 s came in at low level to attack troopships loading there. Berry led his section to attack but could not stop the leading bomber from scoring direct hits on the “Lancastria", setting it on fire and causing it to sink later with heavy casualties to the 4000 troops on board. Berry shot the He 111 down in flames into the river. For this action he was awarded the DFC (20.8.40).

On September 1 1940 Berry was shot down in combat with Bf 109s and killed when his Hurricane, P 3276, crashed at Brisley Farm, Ruckinge. ( Kent ).

He is buried in Pinner New Cemetery , Harrow , Middlesex.


A photo of Fred Berry, while he was a Sergeant Pilot.	Fred Berry's grave in Pinner New Cemetery.

EDITED: 29 April 2010

I have just received four colour photos of Fred's grave from Malcolm Dunn. I thank him for sending them to me. Here they are.

The propellor hub from Berry's Hurricane was recovered in September 1981 and can be seen at Kent Battle of Britain Museum.

http://www.kbobm.org/

In an email msg from Stephen Whitehorn, 15 October 2003, Stephen writes......

Here is the info I have

Berry Hurricane map ref 365 017 on Ordance Survey Map 189 of Ashford and Area. The plane is between Between Golden Wood and Rowling Street Farm.

Hurricane P3276 Crashed at 11.30am after combat with ME109s.
Propeller Hub dug Up in 1981 - may well be in the Kent Battle of
Britain Museum?? (I understand that the propeller hub is in the Kent BoB Museum. Johnf)

Joined airforce at the age of 15. After 3 years as serving as a tradesman he volunteered for pilot training. He joined 43 Sqgn as a Sergeant Pilot in 1938 at the age of 22 and was later posted to 1 Sqdn in 1938 he served in France before flying in the Battle of Britain.

Awarded DFM 20.8.40 for downing a He111 on June 17 1940.

Aug 16th shot down a HE111 in the Portsmouth area. He destroyed enemy aircraft in France but no details are known.

I have more detaiils on his training if you want? The dates differ slightly saying that he trained in 1936 at 9FTS went to 43 Sqdn in 1937 and went to 1 Sqdn in 1939. Would be inclined to agree with the later dates I have just found.

Hope this helps
Steve

Thanks for that information Steve.

Maps of the crash site.