Francis Cyril Compton
Sergeant · 1322681 · United Kingdom
- Died
- 29 June 1943, aged 20
- Fate
- Killed in action
Biography
Francis Cyril Compton was a British Royal Air Force sergeant, service number 1322681, whose wartime career is traced through casualty and official award records. His decorations recorded here include the DFM, gazetted on 1 June 1943. The Gazette citation points to operational service that the Air Ministry judged notable for qualities such as skill, courage, leadership or sustained determination. He died on 29 June 1943, aged 20. He is commemorated or buried at Heverlee War Cemetery in Belgium. For many RAF casualties the surviving official trail is brief, but the combination of service number, CWGC commemoration and Gazette notices preserves the essentials of his story. Those records show not only the bare fact of his death, but also that his service had been formally recognised during the war itself. His name is therefore carried here with the service details needed to distinguish him from namesakes. This profile therefore keeps to the verifiable outline: who he was, the rank and number under which he served, how his service was honoured, and where he is remembered.
Burial / commemoration
- Cemetery
- Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium
Operations on this date. One raid in this archive was flown on the night of 29 June 1943: Cologne. (Cross-reference by date — not in itself confirmation this airman flew it.)
Timeline
-
1 June 1943
Gazetted: DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal -
29 June 1943
Died
aged 20
Awards
-
Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) — gazetted 1 June 1943
1322681 Sergeant Francis Cyril COMPTON, No. 10 Squadron. One night in May, 1943, this airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack Duisburg.. During the operation his aircraft was attacked and damaged by an enemy fighter Sergeant Compton resolutely returned fire and, following an accurate burst, the enemy aircraft stalled and then fell towards the ground, disappear- ing out of sight through the clouds. Half-an- hour later, the bomber was again attacked by enemy fighters. In the ensuing action Sergeant Compton coolly and skilfully used his guns while giving his captain directions which enabled him to evade the attackers. The following night during an operation against Bochum h