John Clayton was born in 1917, son of Frederick and Louisa Clayton, of Baildon, Shipley, Yorkshire.

John joined the Royal Air Force and became an air gunner on a Blenheim with 139 Squadron.

On 7 July 1941, Sgt Clayton, his pilot F/L Horace Hilton and observer Sgt Jack Sykes boarded Blenheim V6084 and took off at 11.42 from their base Horsham St. Faith. Their mission was to intercept and destroy enemy shipping off the Dutch coast. Eleven Blemheims had been detailed to this mission this day.

139 Squadron

The Blemheims did find enemy shipping off the coast of Den Haag and attacked eight shiops and four flak vessels.ccording to their own reports, the British destroyed sunk  three ships, for the loss of three Blenheims. Two of the Blenheims that were lost were from 139 squadron. One was the V6084, flown by Sgt Hilton. All three crew members perished. Sgt Sykes's body washed ashore and is buried in The Hague (Westduin) Cemetery. Sgt. Clayton is buried in Bergen. Sgt Hilton remains missing and is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.

Sgt John Clayton is buried at Bergen General Cemetery, Plot 1. Row E. Grave 14..

 

Bergen,  The Netherlands

See Also:
F/L Horace Hilton
Sgt Jack Sykes

All casualties of 139 squadron buried in the Netherlands

Sources and Acknowledgements:
Commonwealth War Grave Commission
lostbombers.co.uk

Directions to Bergen General Cemetery

Posted 15 June 2009

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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