Leslie Francis's Story.
Leslie Francis Clarke was born in Chester on 19th May 1923 to parents Edward and Elizabeth Clarke of New Ferry. He studied at the Birkenhead Institute from 1934 until 1940 where he excelled at sports representing the school in boxing, cricket, and rugby. In 1939 he was awarded the Victor Ludorum medal as top sportsman ( winner of the games).
Newspaper cutting showing Leslie with the Victor Ludorum cup. Thanks to Denise Roden for this photo and other information on Leslie
He volunteered for RAF aircrew duties in 1940 and completed his training as an Air Bomber in 1943 and he joined 51 Squadron at RAF Snaith in Yorkshire on 6th June 1943 where he flew in Halifax bombers. His first mission was on 3rd July 1943 to bomb Cologne. He then flew on 22 missions before being killed He had a lucky escape on only his second mission on 9th July 1943 when his aircraft was hit by flak over Gelsenkirchen which caused one of the engines to shut down. However, the crew managed to bring the aircraft back to base safely.
Leslie's mission list
51 Squadron Halifax being loaded with bombs at RAF Snaith
Mission record for 9th July 1943 when they were hit by flak
He was killed on his 23rd mission on 15th March 1944 when his aircraft Halifax LW497 was hit by flak over the target (Stuttgart) and crashed 30 miles from the city with the loss of 6 of the 8 crew members on board with 2 crew members bailing out and being taken prisoner., The aircraft was one of 863 aircraft that bombed Stuttgart that night of which 37 ( 4.3%) were lost.. Leslie is buried at Durnbach War Cemetery in Germany and is commemorated on a memorial plaque dedicated to the crew members who died in LW497 located near the old RAF Snaith base.
LW497 had distinctive nose art and was named the Winsome WAAF
Mission record for the final mission of LW497
Leslie's grave at Durnbach
Memorial to the crew of LW497 located near the old RAF Snaith airbase