BRETTELL William Anthony Macduff

His brother, David Graham MacDuff Brettell also died on service.

On 23rd June 1943, William Brettell, known as Tony to family and friends, was due to fly a mission to Rotterdam with his squadron. However, his air gunner was sick and as Tony had just finished his training and had done very few flights with the Mitchell bomber, he was given the day to familiarise himself further with the aircraft.

From ISBN 0 907700 11:
B25 Mitchell, FL213, 98 Squadron. Foulsham, 23rd June 1943. Easthan, Nr. Tenbury.
The Mitchell was a rare bird indeed, and very seldom seen in the skies over Worcestershire. Eyes were raised at the Royal Observer Corps Post at Clowes Top, as it flew overhead, ‘What the dickens is he doing over here’.

Indeed it should have not been over there. The day in question, 23rd June 1943, a young pilot, aged only 20, by the name of William Anthony MacDuff Brettell, only on leave three days before at his cousin’s house in Eastham, could not resist the urge to come over and ‘beat’ up the cherry orchard near the Eastham home.

Several people in the village watched petrified as the Mitchell, diving and sweeping, rattled the chimney post with its low flying. The family were unaware that the pilot was in fact Tony Brettell, but a hint of suspicion soon began to enter their mind.

Then tragedy struck, as it does so often in these moments of temporary excitement. The Mitchell came too low, struck the tall chimneys on the house, an engine was torn out and Tony Brettell lost control.

The aircraft just managed to clear the orchard, with the pilot obviously trying desperately to put down in the large meadow at the rear of Eastham Church. But to no avail, out of control and with only two hours previously logged on the Mitchell his chances were nil. Flt Sgt Brettell perished along with his navigator.

Brettell is a famous name in the Tenbury area, where Tony’s Father, the late Sqn./Ldr. W.D.M. Brettell landed his first aeroplane in the large field at Tenbury. He went later to live in Kenya where Tony was born. Tony later returned to this country as a young man, along with his brother George, to be educated at Oswestry School. A considerable part of his youth was spent in the long summer months at Eastham.

Tony joined the Royal Air Force in 1941, doing his elementary training at 26 E.F.T.S. (Elementary Flying Training School) ‘Guinea Fowl’ in Southern Rhodesia flying the Tiger Moth. Next posting was 22 S.F.T.S. (Service Flying Training School) Thornhill, on Harvard Is and IIs. In February 1942 he went to 21 S.F.T.S. ‘Kumalo’ to train on the Airspeed Oxford.

Returning to the United Kingdom in September 1942 he was posted to 15 (P) A.F.U. at Acaster Malbis. Then a short course at 1516 B.A.T. Flight at Middleton St. George on Oxfords, and finally on to 13 O.T.U. Bicester flying Blenheim Is and IVs.

After his last leave at Eastham, Flt Sgt Brettell was posted on the 8th June to 98 Squadron, R.A.F. Foulsham, Dereham. The last entries in his log book are:
Course Report 2nd June 1943
June 12th-16th-19th-20th Dual Instruction Mitchell V
June 21-23 Self ‘Local Flying’. Total hours 4.55