Branse Burbridge
Bransome Arthur "Branse" Burbridge, was a Royal Air Force night fighter pilot and flying ace—a pilot credited with at least five enemy aircraft destroyed—who holds the Allied record of 21 aerial victories achieved at night during the Second World War.
Burbridge was born in February 1921 into a family with strong Christian and pacifist beliefs. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe on 3 September 1939 Burbridge registered himself as a conscientious objector but changed his mind in 1940 and enlisted in the RAF.
Burbridge completed his training within a year, was posted to No. 85 Squadron RAF and claimed one probable kill against enemy aircraft with another aircraft damaged by the end of 1942. Burbridge was then posted to an Operational Training Unit as an instructor before spending a year as a staff officer. In July 1943 he reached the rank of flight lieutenant.
Burbridge returned to operations in late 1943 with No. 85 Squadron, equipped with the de Havilland Mosquito. The unit performed night defence operations over the British Isles. Burbridge flew with radar operator Bill Skelton, achieving much success in a relatively short time period. By the end of the German air offensive Steinbock in May 1944 he had shot down five enemy aircraft, making him a night fighter ace. Both men were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in May 1944.
In June 1944 Operation Overlord and the Allied invasion of German-occupied Europe began reopening the Western Front. Burbridge flew sorties as an intruder pilot with No. 100 Group RAF over the front. He claimed two more kills with one probable and another damaged in these operations. Burbridge also destroyed three V-1 flying bombs over southern England.
In September 1944 No. 85 Squadron returned to intruding over Germany and supporting RAF Bomber Command. Burbridge was awarded a bar to his DFC in October 1944 and a Distinguished Service Order the following month. From September 1944 to January 1945, Burbridge claimed 13 enemy night fighter aircraft destroyed — including four in one night. In February 1945 both men were awarded a bar to their DSO.
After the end of the war in May 1945, Burbridge stayed in the RAF for a further seven months before resigning his commission. He studied at Oxford University and then Cambridge University before entering the Christian ministry. He remained in its service until his retirement. Burbridge resided in Chorleywood in Hertfordshire until his death in November 2016.
Early life
Bransome Arthur Burbridge was born in Brixton, in the London Borough of Lambeth, to Arthur Jarvis and Charlotte Davis on 4 February 1921. Bransome was the second eldest of five. His brother Jarvis was born in 1919 and three sisters followed over the next 12 years: Charlotte, Zöe and Phebe. Arthur was a follower of Charles Spurgeon and John Wesley thus became a Wesleyan preacher. Bransome was dedicated in the Wesleyan tradition as a child.The family moved to a larger house in Thicket Road, Penge, Bromley soon after Bransome was born. In mid-1935, Burbridge moved to Knebworth. Burbridge was educated at Alleyne's School in Stevenage where he pursued his interests in music, painting and drama. While there he took part in the light opera, The Pirates of Penzance, by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert. Through the influence of his father and aunt, Burbridge adapted his musical and stage skills in Welwyn Evangelical Church where he played the organ at Sunday services. After completing his schooling, Burbridge attended Camberwell Art College, and lodged with a view over The Crystal Palace. His fees were stolen from a hotel room when he stopped in central London and he was forced to drop out after one term. This incident followed another unfortunate event. In 1939, his father suffered a heart attack when he was struck by a crank while trying to start the family car. Arthur Jarvis never recovered and died in 1940.
Bransome was a pacifist and by 1939 his Christian values forbade him from joining the British Armed Forces or any military institution. Burbridge registered as a conscientious objector after the enabling of the National Service Act 1939. Bransome was aware objectors had been badly treated in World War I but refused to betray his principles even after the British declaration of war on 3 September 1939, following the German and Soviet invasion of Poland. Instead, Bransome continued in his civilian job at Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation.
In 1939, he created a Young Endeavour group at his local Welwyn Evangelical Church with some initial success. However, he found that as the conflict continued, the group dwindled as men were called up to serve. Women were called up in 1941, but in the meantime Bransome chaired meetings that he described as nothing more than knitting parties. In September 1940, Burbridge ended his objection to military service. After the war, Burbridge explained that he wished to have a positive influence over people his own age, and if he was to continue doing so, he had to enter the armed forces. Burbridge opted for the Royal Air Force to serve as a pilot or aircrew. He rationalised that as a pilot he was responsible for shooting down aircraft, not people. Burbridge made his decision despite having shown no interest in flying, nor experience or understanding in the basics of aviation.
Second World War
Training to instructor
Burbridge applied to join the RAF in September 1940. He was given the non-commissioned officer Service number 10067. The situation for the Allies at that time was bleak. After the conquest of Poland, the German Wehrmacht swiftly defeated Allied forces in Norway and France. RAF Fighter Command had prevailed against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain but British cities were suffering in The Blitz—a sustained aerial night offensive against the United Kingdom.On 24 February 1941 after completing basic flight training at the Elementary Flying Training School, Sulhamstead House, in Berkshire, Burbridge flew an aircraft for the first time. Thereafter he trained in the Miles Magister and converted to the twin-engine Airspeed Oxford. In the Oxford he trained in bomb-aimer, navigation, and air gunner exercises. By the spring he had progressed onto the Bristol Blenheim and the versatile Bristol Beaufighter—an effective night fighter. In June 1941 he was transferred to No. 54 Operational Training Unit at RAF Church Fenton. Burbridge's skill was recognised and he was appointed as an instructor. Burbridge was also commissioned as Pilot Officer on 1 July 1941. That same day he learned his brother Jarvis had been shot down and was a prisoner of war.
Burbridge was a proficient pilot and undertook night flying training courses. He learned to use the Blind approach beacon system which Burbridge surmised as audible dots and dashes. The radar landing system generated dots to one side of the runway and dashes to the other. The strength of these images depended on the accuracy and position of the aircraft as it approached centre-line of the runway. The instructor's view was uninhibited, but the student pilot had his windshield covered to simulate an obstruction. In October 1941, after six months of intensive night flight training, Burbridge was declared ready for front-line operations. Burbridge was posted to No. 85 Squadron RAF at RAF Hunsdon in October 1941. It was a satellite airfield for RAF North Weald in Essex. The squadron's commander was Peter Townsend, an experienced combat leader. 85 Squadron was already a battle-hardened formation and had been in action during World War I and the Battle of Britain in 1940.
The squadron was flying the American-built Douglas Havoc. The aircraft was initially used as a light bomber but was converted to the night fighter role as its limited range prevented from being used in bombing operations over Germany. The machine's nose was equipped with aircraft interception radar, which required a second crewman to act as a navigator and radar operator. The lack of space meant the operator had to sit 10 feet behind the pilot and communicate through an intercom which was not always reliable. Soon after joining the squadron, the unsuitability of the aircraft as a night fighter became apparent to Burbridge. While coming in to land his aircraft, the entire nose-section fell away nearly striking the landing gear. While the incident led to the nose being strengthened Burbridge found the Havoc to be sluggish and the firepower inadequate for the intended role. There was little Townsend could do. With no replacements or re-equipment in sight, 85 Squadron were to continue operating the Havoc.
In 1942 the Luftwaffe began the so-called "Baedeker Blitz", in retaliation for RAF Bomber Command attacks on German cities. The Luftwaffe bombed Ipswich, Poole and Canterbury on the night of the 2/3 June 1942. Near Canterbury Burbridge claimed his first successes—a probable Junkers Ju 88 over Ipswich—at 03:30 on 2 June 1942. The following night, at 02:50, he damaged a Dornier Do 217 over Canterbury. Burbridge was guided to his targets by ground control interception which placed him within a mile of the target aircraft. The radio operator guided him with the onboard AI Mk. VIII radar set until the enemy was in visual range. For his service he was promoted to Flying Officer on 1 July 1942.
In August 1942 the squadron began to convert onto the de Havilland Mosquito and dispensed with the ineffective Havocs. On 15 August Burbridge made his first flight in the aircraft with a Sergeant Webster. His first solo flight was on 17 September 1942.
Burbridge's operational tour expired in October 1942 he was posted as an instructor to 62 OTU at RAF Usworth near Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and then briefly to 141 and 157 Squadrons. While flying from Usworth Burbridge was detailed to instruct at the radar operator's training school. Here students were given instruction and experience on night navigation. Burbridge flew the Avro Anson on these training flights. The aircraft could hold eight students and was equipped with two AI radar screens. The students operated the older AI Mk. IV radar sets which had been relegated to second-line duties. They were observed by a radar operator instructor.