Branse Burbridge
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Branse Burbridge, DSO
& Bar
, DFC
& Bar
(born 4 February 1921), was the top scoring Allied night fighter
pilot of World War II
.
Born in East Dulwich
, Burbridge lived in Knebworth
when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, working as an insurance clerk. At first he was a conscientious objector
, but, coming to the view that the war was a just cause, he joined the Royal Air Force
in September 1940.
After training at No. 54 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Church Fenton
, he was posted to 85 Squadron
in October 1941, flying Douglas Havoc night fighters. Tour-expired, he was posted to 62 OTU and then to 141 and 157
Squadrons. He returned to 85 in July 1943 as a Flight Lieutenant. Burbridge had far more success flying Mosquitoes with 85, initially on home defence duties prior to June 1944, than on Bomber Support operations with No. 100 Group RAF
against the Luftwaffe
's Nachtgeschwaders. With radar operator F/L 'Bill' Skelton, he claimed 21 kills over the next ten months, 16 over occupied Europe.
They opened their account on 22 February 1944, destroying a Messerschmitt Me 410
. The pair shot down a total of 21 enemy aircraft and three V1 flying bombs, the total including a Bf 110 and three Ju 88Gs during the night of November 4/5 1944. On this occasion Burbridge fired only 200 rounds of ammunition
in downing four enemy aircraft. Finishing their tour of operations in early 1945, their score of enemy aircraft destroyed made them the top night-fighting crew in the RAF.
Burbridge is quoted as saying "I always tried to aim for the wings of enemy aircraft and not the cockpit. I never wanted to kill anyone."
A committed Christian, Burbridge went on to become a full-time worker for Scripture Union
after the war.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Branse Burbridge, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(born 4 February 1921), was the top scoring Allied night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
pilot of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Born in East Dulwich
East Dulwich
East Dulwich is a district of South London, England in the London Borough of Southwark. It forms the eastern one third of Dulwich, with the Dulwich Wood area, Dulwich Village and West Dulwich to its South and West making up the remaining two thirds...
, Burbridge lived in Knebworth
Knebworth
Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Walden and Langley, and encompasses the village of Knebworth, the...
when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, working as an insurance clerk. At first he was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, but, coming to the view that the war was a just cause, he joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in September 1940.
After training at No. 54 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
, he was posted to 85 Squadron
No. 85 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:...
in October 1941, flying Douglas Havoc night fighters. Tour-expired, he was posted to 62 OTU and then to 141 and 157
No. 157 Squadron RAF
No. 157 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was active as a night fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No. 157 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 14 July 1918 at RAF Upper Heyford and was eventually equipped with Salamander aircraft for ground support duties,...
Squadrons. He returned to 85 in July 1943 as a Flight Lieutenant. Burbridge had far more success flying Mosquitoes with 85, initially on home defence duties prior to June 1944, than on Bomber Support operations with No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group RAF
No. 100 Group was a special duties group within RAF Bomber Command.It was formed on 11 November 1943 to consolidate the increasingly complex business of electronic warfare and countermeasures within one organisation. The group was responsible for the development, operational trial and use of...
against the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
's Nachtgeschwaders. With radar operator F/L 'Bill' Skelton, he claimed 21 kills over the next ten months, 16 over occupied Europe.
They opened their account on 22 February 1944, destroying a Messerschmitt Me 410
Messerschmitt Me 410
The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse was a German heavy fighter and Schnellbomber used by Luftwaffe during World War II. Though essentially a straightforward modification of the Me 210, it was designated the Me 410 to avoid association with its notoriously flawed predecessor.-Design and...
. The pair shot down a total of 21 enemy aircraft and three V1 flying bombs, the total including a Bf 110 and three Ju 88Gs during the night of November 4/5 1944. On this occasion Burbridge fired only 200 rounds of ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
in downing four enemy aircraft. Finishing their tour of operations in early 1945, their score of enemy aircraft destroyed made them the top night-fighting crew in the RAF.
Burbridge is quoted as saying "I always tried to aim for the wings of enemy aircraft and not the cockpit. I never wanted to kill anyone."
A committed Christian, Burbridge went on to become a full-time worker for Scripture Union
Scripture Union
Scripture Union is an international, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian movement. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world...
after the war.