DENNIS GEORGE BRADD
Dennis Bradd was a Pilot Officer with 630 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Service No: 177394
He was born 19/02/24 to Maurice Albert George and Clarissa Eleanor Bradd of Stifford Essex.
Dennis joined Bata 26/05/1941 Register No : 9430
Whilst at East Tilbury he worked in the Leather Factory, Manipulation Department.
In a letter to the Bata Record he states that he hoped to finish training for Night Flying in June 1943. In June 1944 he states that he had now completed 22 operational flights and was waiting to be attached to a new crew.
On March 30th 1944 Dennis took part in the Nuremburg raid where Bomber Command suffered heavy losses and the rear gunner Richard (Dick) Rogers, recalled that it was largely due to Dennis that they weathered the operation. The crew with Dennis Mid-upper Gunner, on this operation consisted of Geoff Probert pilot, Vic Lawrence Wireless operator, Alan Payne Bomb Aimer, Eric Snell Engineer, Thomas Mackie Navigator and Richard Rogers Rear Gunner.
Before this crew split up their last operation was mine laying in Kiel Bay. They were hit by a JU88 and Dennis had his oxygen mask blown off his face. At one stage the tail caught alight but the fire went out, shells had also torn into the starboard main fuselage, narrowly missing the fuel tanks. Probert managed to dive and lose the fighter and they landed back safely at East Kirkby. Subsequently Geoff Probert was awarded the DFC. Richard Rogers remembers many on the squadron who were lost but the greatest blow of all was when they heard that Dennis had gone out to Wesseling and not returned.
Dennis died on Thursday 22nd June 1944, aged 20.
Commemorated
Runnymede Memorial: Panel 210
Bata Record
26.02.43
26.03.43
25.06.43
01.10.43
02.06.44
