Flight Lieutenant Brian Slade DFC

Royal Air Force, 83 Squadron

Killed in Action 24th August 1943

Son of Horace Bernard and Emily Caroline Slade, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery Coll. grave 8. D. 22-27

Brian Slade was a former pupil of Hemel Hempstead Grammar School who served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force.  He trained at RAF Halton and was promoted quickly to become a Flight Commander in 83 Squadron.  He was killed on his 59th operation when his Lancaster was hit by flak over Berlin on 24th August 1943.  He was only 19 years old.  He was remembered as a daring and outgoing person.  There is a story, not confirmed, that on one occasion he flew a Wellington bomber in a tight, low circuit around the pointed spire of St Mary’s church in Hemel Hempstead to say “hello” to his parents and sister who lived close-by.

 

 

Brian Slade at school                Brian Slade's grave in Berlin

 

Read more about Brian Slade by clicking here and here, plus reminiscences from Tony Horton here.