Flying Officer Frederick Dick Butland (J/20423) served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of Frederick George Butland and Katie Constance Butland of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Flying Officer Butland died on 13th July 1943 aged 21 years old. At the time, he flew in Northern Ireland with RAF No. 7 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit.
Imperial War Museum Photo: HU 99420 (Part of the Royal Air Force Official Collection). Aerial photograph of RAF Limavady, locally known as Aghanloo Airfield next to the River Roe in Co. Londonderry.
On 13th July 1943, he was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner in Vickers Wellington HF838 that took off from RAF Limavady, Aghanloo Airfield, Co. Londonderry. Butland and the remaining four crew members died when the plane came down near the Curley Burn river at Dickey’s Glen, Bolea.
Frederick Dick Butland’s grave is in Grave 14, Christ Church Churchyard, Drumachose, Co. Londonderry. He lies next to John Gouinlock Anderson, a New Zealander airman who died as a result the same incident. A third member of the crew, John William Hughes of the RNZAF is buried in Grave 3, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Limavady, Co. Londonderry.