GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY D.S.O. London Gazette 2 January 1945: The original recommendation states:
‘Squadron Leader Burbridge commenced operational flying in October 1941, when he was posted to No. 85 Squadron. After completing his tour he was sent to 62 O.T.U. for a period of seven months as an instructor.
In July 1943, he was posted back to No. 85 (Night Fighter) Squadron and up to the time when the Squadron was posted to 100 Group he had destroyed four enemy aircraft and probably destroyed a fifth. Involving over 100 defensive sorties and 254 operational hours. For this meritorious service he was awarded the D.F.C.
Squadron Leader Burbridge was awarded a Bar to his D.F.C. in October 1944 after destroying a further three enemy aircraft and three flying bombs on 10 offensive and 17 defensive sorties.
Since the award of a Bar to his D.F.C., Squadron Leader Burbridge has completed a further 10 bomber support sorties and has destroyed a further six enemy aircraft and probably a seventh.
On 14 October 1944, while on a high level bomber support sortie to Brunswick, he had nearly finished his patrol line when he noticed some enemy signals being fired from an airfield underneath him. He immediately dived to investigate and soon obtained a contact and finally a visual on a Ju. 88 circling the airfield. This he destroyed. Shortly afterwards he had a further combat with another Ju. 88 and destroyed this also.
On 19 October 1944, while on a high level bomber support sortie to Nurnberg, he had just set course for his base at 5,000 feet when his Operator reported a contact well above. Squadron Leader Burbridge immediately climbed up to 10,000 feet and saw a Ju. 88 about 3,000 feet behind a Lancaster bomber which it was presumably about to attack. Squadron Leader Burbridge prevented that attack from taking place by destroying the Ju. 88.
On 4 November 1944, while on a high level bomber support sortie to Bochum he intercepted and destroyed three Ju. 88s and one Me. 110.
Squadron Leader Burbridge has now completed 20 bomber support sorties, both high level and low level, and also a great many defensive sorties. He has destroyed 14 enemy aircraft and probably destroyed one more.
This officer is an outstanding example to the Flight which he commands and the rest of the Squadron. His keenness to engage the enemy can be gauged by the success he has enjoyed and he richly deserves the immediate award of the D.S.O.’
Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 13 March 1945. The original recommendation states:
‘On the night of 2 January 1945, this pilot destroyed a Ju. 88 south of Ludwigshaven, thereby securing his 20th enemy aircraft destroyed by night in just over 10 months, and beating the night-fighting record held by his former C.O., Group Captain J. Cunningham, D.S.O., D.F.C.
Just previously on 22 December 1944, he had destroyed an Me. 110. On 12 December 1944, whilst shooting down an Me. 110 his A.I. became partially unserviceable and he was in turn attacked by another enemy aircraft which scored a hit in the port wing. Nothing daunted, Squadron Leader Burbridge continued his patrol and shot down a Ju. 88 over Bonn airfield.
This officer was awarded the D.S.O. after destroying four enemy aircraft in one sortie on 4 November 1944. Since that award, he has completed a further 11 sorties and has destroyed six more enemy aircraft. In all, he has carried out 31 offensive patrols in support of bomber operations; on four separate occasions he has destroyed two or more enemy aircraft during one sortie. His marksmanship is exceptional; he has no probables or damaged in his score with 100 Group. What is perhaps equally creditable is the fact that on five different occasions he has had to return from his patrol line on one engine and each time he has made a safe landing at base.
Squadron Leader Burbridge has set an inspiring example not only on operations but in every other sphere, and in recognition of his devotion to duty and magnificent fighting spirit, I recommend him for the immediate award of a Bar to his D.S.O.’
D.F.C. London Gazette 2 June 1944. The original recommendations states: ‘Flight Lieutenant Burbridge has carried out a very great deal of operational flying on night fighters.
On the night of 22-23 February 1944, he shot down an Me. 410 into the sea in flames; on the night of 24-25 March 1944, he destroyed a Ju. 88 and very probably destroyed a Do. 217 which was last seen diving into cloud apparently on fire; on the night of 18-19 April 1944, he shot down a Ju. 188 into the sea off Dymchurch.
Flight Lieutenant Burbridge has thus destroyed three enemy aircraft and very probably a fourth. He has shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy on both his operational tours on night fighters and has lost no opportunity of improving his standard of night interception work.’
Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 10 November 1944. The original recommendation states:
‘Since the award of the D.F.C., Squadron Leader Burbridge has assumed command of ‘A’ Flight. He has worked very hard as a Flight Commander and has carried out a large amount of operational flying including 10 bomber support sorties resulting in three enemy aircraft destroyed and 17 flying bomb patrols resulting in three flying bombs destroyed.
On 14 June 1944, he destroyed a Ju. 188 near Charleroi. On 24 June 1944, he destroyed a Ju. 88 near Coulommiers. Wreckage from the enemy aircraft struck his radiator which necessitated a single-engined return journey.
On 11 September 1944, he destroyed a Ju. 188 over Denmark, and again pressed home the attack to close range, resulting in wreckage hitting his radiators and yet another single-engine return journey over some 400 miles of sea.
This officer has now destroyed seven enemy aircraft and probably an eighth. He has lost no opportunity in seeking out and engaging the enemy where ever he might be and has been a splendid example to the rest of the Squadron.’
United States of America D.F.C. London Gazette 14 June 1946.
Bransome Arthur “Branse” Burbridge was born in East Dulwich, London, in February 1921, the son of a Wesleyan preacher, and was educated at Alleyne’s School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, where he enjoyed music and fostered an ambition to study art. Duly entering Camberwell Art College, the theft of a term’s fees placed sufficient strain on family finances for young Branse to find alternative employment in the City of London, where he was working in an insurance company on the outbreak of hostilities.
As a committed Christian and pacifist, however, he initially registered himself as a Conscientious Objector - a courageous decision in light of the treatment of C.Os in the Great War. But with the passage of time he felt increasing unease at his predicament, so much so that in February 1941, shortly after his 20th birthday, he joined the Royal Air Force, in which a brother, Jarvis, was already serving in Bomber Command - Jarvis was to be shot down and taken P.O.W.
Selected for pilot training, he qualified for his Flying Badge in July 1941 and, having honed his skills at an Operational Training Unit at Church Fenton where he gained an ‘above average’ pilot rating, the newly commissioned Burbridge was posted to No. 85 Squadron that October - commanded by ex-Battle of Britain fighter ace Peter Townsend, the Squadron had recently taken delivery of Havocs.
www.dnw.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290 |
Page 291 |
Page 292 |
Page 293 |
Page 294 |
Page 295 |
Page 296 |
Page 297 |
Page 298 |
Page 299 |
Page 300 |
Page 301 |
Page 302