Frazer Burstock Slade DSO (1912 - 1943)

Born 31 Mar 1912 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Greta Salome Sweet — married 29 Jan 1940 in Tavistock, Devon

Died 18 Aug 1943 at age 31 in Danish Air Space

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Greg Slade [send private message]

Biography

Frazer Burstock Slade was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire on 31 March 1912. He was the son of Charles Slade and Elizabeth Banks.

Frazer married Greta Sweet on 29 January 1940. Their marriage was registered in Tavistock, Devon in the first quarter of 1940^[1].

Flight Sergeant Fraser Burstock Slade was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1940^[2]. Pilot Officer on probation Fraser Burstock Slade was confirmed in his appointment and promoted to Flying Officer on 1 April 1941^[3].

Fraser was killed in action by a German nightfighter in Danish air space en route home from the Peenemünde raid on 18 August 1943.^[4]

Acting Squadron Leader Fraser Burstock Slade was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 24 September 1943^[5]. The citation read:

Acting Squadron Leader Fraser Burstock SLADE (43416) Royal Air Force, No. 12 Squadron. This officer has displayed outstanding ability and unswerving devotion in the execution of operational tasks. He completed very many sorties in the Middle East theatre, achieving much success. Since his return to this country, Squadron Leader Slade has undertaken numerous sorties against various targets in Germany and Italy. His ideal leadership and unconquerable spirit have set an example worthy of the highest praise.

Sources

1. ↑ FreeBMD: Marriages Mar 1940, Surname: Slade, Given Name: Fraser B., District: Tavistock, Volume: 5b, Page: 1244.
2. ↑ Recorded in The Gazette (London Gazette), issue 34859, page 3189, 28 May 1940.
3. ↑ Recorded in The Gazette (London Gazette), issue 35196, page 3517, 20 June 1941.
4. ↑ Middlebrook, Martin, The Peenemünde Raid: The Night of 17-18 August 1943. London: Allen Lane (1982), page 183. Text: "The outcome at Esjberg had been almost identical. The searchlights had held the bomber for a night fighter, probably a Junkers 88 piloted by Unteroffizr Gunter Liersch, to shoot down into the sea. The crew of the second Lancaster were probably that of Squadron Leader F. B. Slade, a flight commander of 12 Squadron well into his second tour. Again there were no survivors."
5. ↑ Recorded in The Gazette (London Gazette), issue 36183, page 4245, 24 September 1943.

See also:

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: SLADE, FRASER BURSTOCK
• Personal remembrances of Douglas Slade, as recorded by his son.
• Slade Genealogy: Frazer Burstock Slade