84698 Flight Lieutenant John Arthur Sword, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Arthur Nicholson and Margaret Sword of Chivel Farm, Heythrop. His father was a farmer and also a rancher in Argentina. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained as a pilot and was posted to 115 Squadron, flying the Vickers Wellington MkIII from RAF Mildenhall and then from East Wretham in Norfolk. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his citation reads: "One night in April, 1942, this officer was captain of an aircraft which took part in an attack on the Matford factory at Poissy. In spite of heavy enemy opposition, he attacked from a low level and scored several hits with his bombs. Afterwards, Flight Lieutenant Sword remained in the area until the attack had been completed by the main force and then made a further 5 runs over the target area and obtained some excellent photographs. This officer, who has carried out a considerable number of operational sorties, has invariably displayed courage and determination of a high order".
On 16 Dec 1941 he married Pauline Bevan, known as Polly, in St Nicholas Church in Heythrop. Polly was the sister of David Bevan who died on HMS Neptune in 1942. They lived at the Dower House in Heythrop.
On 6th May 1942 he was the pilot of Vickers Wellington Mk III 395' K-OK which took of from RAF Marham at 2141 hrs, one of 121 bombers dispatched on a raid to Stuttgart. His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and all 6 crew members successfully bailed out. Sadly Flight Lieutenant Sword and Flight Sergeant Harold Batty, the Observer, both fell to their deaths due to insecure parachute webbing. Flight Lieutenant Sword died aged 23 years. He was originally buried at Alzey in Germany but re-interred in 1948 in Rheinberg War Cemetery. he is also commemorated on the War Memorial in St Nicholas Church, Heythrop, Oxfordshire.
On 16 Dec 1941 he married Pauline Bevan, known as Polly, in St Nicholas Church in Heythrop. Polly was the sister of David Bevan who died on HMS Neptune in 1942. They lived at the Dower House in Heythrop.
On 6th May 1942 he was the pilot of Vickers Wellington Mk III 395' K-OK which took of from RAF Marham at 2141 hrs, one of 121 bombers dispatched on a raid to Stuttgart. His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and all 6 crew members successfully bailed out. Sadly Flight Lieutenant Sword and Flight Sergeant Harold Batty, the Observer, both fell to their deaths due to insecure parachute webbing. Flight Lieutenant Sword died aged 23 years. He was originally buried at Alzey in Germany but re-interred in 1948 in Rheinberg War Cemetery. he is also commemorated on the War Memorial in St Nicholas Church, Heythrop, Oxfordshire.
84698 Flight Lieutenant John Arthur Sword, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Arthur Nicholson and Margaret Sword of Chivel Farm, Heythrop. His father was a farmer and also a rancher in Argentina. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained as a pilot and was posted to 115 Squadron, flying the Vickers Wellington MkIII from RAF Mildenhall and then from East Wretham in Norfolk. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, his citation reads: "One night in April, 1942, this officer was captain of an aircraft which took part in an attack on the Matford factory at Poissy. In spite of heavy enemy opposition, he attacked from a low level and scored several hits with his bombs. Afterwards, Flight Lieutenant Sword remained in the area until the attack had been completed by the main force and then made a further 5 runs over the target area and obtained some excellent photographs. This officer, who has carried out a considerable number of operational sorties, has invariably displayed courage and determination of a high order".
On 16 Dec 1941 he married Pauline Bevan, known as Polly, in St Nicholas Church in Heythrop. Polly was the sister of David Bevan who died on HMS Neptune in 1942. They lived at the Dower House in Heythrop.
On 6th May 1942 he was the pilot of Vickers Wellington Mk III 395' K-OK which took of from RAF Marham at 2141 hrs, one of 121 bombers dispatched on a raid to Stuttgart. His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and all 6 crew members successfully bailed out. Sadly Flight Lieutenant Sword and Flight Sergeant Harold Batty, the Observer, both fell to their deaths due to insecure parachute webbing. Flight Lieutenant Sword died aged 23 years. He was originally buried at Alzey in Germany but re-interred in 1948 in Rheinberg War Cemetery. he is also commemorated on the War Memorial in St Nicholas Church, Heythrop, Oxfordshire.
On 16 Dec 1941 he married Pauline Bevan, known as Polly, in St Nicholas Church in Heythrop. Polly was the sister of David Bevan who died on HMS Neptune in 1942. They lived at the Dower House in Heythrop.
On 6th May 1942 he was the pilot of Vickers Wellington Mk III 395' K-OK which took of from RAF Marham at 2141 hrs, one of 121 bombers dispatched on a raid to Stuttgart. His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and all 6 crew members successfully bailed out. Sadly Flight Lieutenant Sword and Flight Sergeant Harold Batty, the Observer, both fell to their deaths due to insecure parachute webbing. Flight Lieutenant Sword died aged 23 years. He was originally buried at Alzey in Germany but re-interred in 1948 in Rheinberg War Cemetery. he is also commemorated on the War Memorial in St Nicholas Church, Heythrop, Oxfordshire.
Inscription
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Gravesite Details
84698
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Records on Ancestry
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Web: UK and Allied Countries, Index of International Bomber Command Losses, 1936-1966
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England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976
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England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
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Geneanet Community Trees Index
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UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
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