Pilot Officer Joseph John Fletcher

No. 463 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force

Service Number:                                             414668

Place of Enlistment:                                       Brisbane

Age of Enlistment:                                         25 Years

Date of Enlistment:                                        8^th of November 1941

Embarked:                                                      Melbourne, 6^th of March 1943

Medals Awarded:                                           1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Place of Death:                                              Killed in Action, Normandy, France 11^th of June 1944

Resting Place:                                               Buried Ste Gemmes-le-Robert Communal Cemetery, France

Unit Badge:                                                    No. 463 Squadron RAAF

Additional Information:

On the 11^th of June 1944, No. 463 Squadron performed a bombing mission to the French city of Poitiers. The target of this raid was the Poitiers rail yards, a key transport hub that the Germans were using to reinforce their armies opposing the Allied Normandy Landings (Operation Overlord). Although a successful raid, the squadron lost one aircraft, Lancaster ADV229 commanded by Pilot Officer Fletcher. Pilot Officer Fletcher was the only crew member who was killed and although not explicitly stated by the records this is likely because Pilot Officer Fletcher remained at the controls of the aircraft, sacrificing himself to allow his crew to escape.