Lot Essay
D.F.C. London Gazette 8.12.1942. Recommendation states 'Since receiving the award of the D.F.M., this Officer has completed a further 16 sorties. He was recently flying low over enemy territory when his engine failed, but despite this he flew back to this country and made a crash landing without injury to his crew. On his next sorties, whilst over Occupied France at 800 feet, his port engine failed. He climbed slightly, told his crew to bale out and then jumped himself. Three weeks later, having undergone a severe ordeal, Pilot Officer Boothby arrived back in this country, with two other members of his crew. Pilot Officer Boothby has on numerous occasions returned from successful operational sorties with his aircraft considerably damaged by enemy action, and he has at all times set an example to the Squadron which is unsurpassed. He is strongly recommended for the D.F.C.'
D.F.M. London Gazette 22.ll.1940. Recommendation states 'This N.C.O. Pilot has been on 27 bombing raids for the Squadron. His outstanding ability as a Pilot and complete command of men quickly led to his becoming a Captain of Aircraft, since when he has never looked back. He knows no fear and his quiet, unassuming personality gives confidence to those who fly with him. Being now one of the more experienced Captains in his Flight, Sergeant Boothby has recently done magnificent work in the training of new Air Crews and most of his protegees have lost no time in becoming very useful members of the Squadron. Quite recently Sergeant Boothby's aircraft ran out of petrol after an Italian raid. He was flying at 6000 feet at the time, at which height it was quite dark though dawn was breaking. He knew he was over land and consequently had no hesitation in deciding to force land his aircraft rather than bale out and leave it to crash possibly on sleeping civilians. He manoeuvred down to 1000 feet, from which height he could just distinguish fields and hedges. He selected a field, and, knowing that there were probably trip wires in it, decided to land with his wheels up. This he did, with minimum damage to his aircraft and no casualties to the crew. Sergeant Boothby was flying on operations again the next night. I strongly recommend that this N.C.O. Pilot be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal'.
Flight Lieutenant Cyril Denys Boothby, D.F.C., D.F.M., was serving at Linton-on-Ouse with No. 58 Squadron at the time of winning his D.F.M. Subsequently joining No. 161 (S.O.E.) Squadron, whose brief was to transport and supply agents to Occupied Europe, he went on to win his D.F.C. on the recommendation of the legendary Group Captain "Pick" Pickard, D.S.O., D.F.C. The forced-landing referred to in his citation was carried out in a Whitley after a mission to Belgium and his successful evasion completed in company with fellow crew member Pilot Officer Read. The gallant Boothby was killed in action during an S.I.S. 'wireless flight' in a Ventura of No. 624 Squadron, over Blida, Italy on the night of 10.9.1943. His name is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.
D.F.M. London Gazette 22.ll.1940. Recommendation states 'This N.C.O. Pilot has been on 27 bombing raids for the Squadron. His outstanding ability as a Pilot and complete command of men quickly led to his becoming a Captain of Aircraft, since when he has never looked back. He knows no fear and his quiet, unassuming personality gives confidence to those who fly with him. Being now one of the more experienced Captains in his Flight, Sergeant Boothby has recently done magnificent work in the training of new Air Crews and most of his protegees have lost no time in becoming very useful members of the Squadron. Quite recently Sergeant Boothby's aircraft ran out of petrol after an Italian raid. He was flying at 6000 feet at the time, at which height it was quite dark though dawn was breaking. He knew he was over land and consequently had no hesitation in deciding to force land his aircraft rather than bale out and leave it to crash possibly on sleeping civilians. He manoeuvred down to 1000 feet, from which height he could just distinguish fields and hedges. He selected a field, and, knowing that there were probably trip wires in it, decided to land with his wheels up. This he did, with minimum damage to his aircraft and no casualties to the crew. Sergeant Boothby was flying on operations again the next night. I strongly recommend that this N.C.O. Pilot be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal'.
Flight Lieutenant Cyril Denys Boothby, D.F.C., D.F.M., was serving at Linton-on-Ouse with No. 58 Squadron at the time of winning his D.F.M. Subsequently joining No. 161 (S.O.E.) Squadron, whose brief was to transport and supply agents to Occupied Europe, he went on to win his D.F.C. on the recommendation of the legendary Group Captain "Pick" Pickard, D.S.O., D.F.C. The forced-landing referred to in his citation was carried out in a Whitley after a mission to Belgium and his successful evasion completed in company with fellow crew member Pilot Officer Read. The gallant Boothby was killed in action during an S.I.S. 'wireless flight' in a Ventura of No. 624 Squadron, over Blida, Italy on the night of 10.9.1943. His name is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.