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Bull, Leslie George "Lester"

Date of birth:
November 7th, 1916 (Highbury/London, Great Britain)
Date of death:
March 29th, 1944
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Poznan
Plot: 7. Row: C. Grave: 1.
Service number:
580284/43932
Nationality:
British

Biography

Leslie George Bull was shot down in Vickers Wellington T 2565 on November 5th, 1941. The crew survived and all but one were teken POW.
He managed to escape from Stalag Luft III in what became known as the "Great Escape" on March 24th, 1944. He was one of the 50 escapees who were executed after being recaptured.

Promotions:
?: Sergeant;
June 13th, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation (seniority April 25th, 1940);
June 13th, 1941: Pilot Officer;
June 13th, 1941: Flying Officer (war subs; seniority April 25th, 1941);
June 13th, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war subs; seniority April 25th, 1942).

Career:
?: London County Council School of Building;
July 1936: Royal Air Force;
?: No. 75 Squadron;
February 24th, 1940: No. 9 Squadron;
June 1940: Blind Approach Training Development Unit;
?: Wireless Intelligence Development Unit;
December 1st, 1940: No. 109 Squadron;
November 5th, 1941: POW;
?: Stalag Luft I;
?: Stalag Luft III.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flying Officer
Unit:
No. 109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
July 18th, 1941

LG 35222/4123.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
June 8th, 1944
Awarded for:
Operation Escape 200

Awarded posthumously.
LG 36544/2619.
Mentioned in Dispatches

Sources

  • Photo 1: National Archives
  • - The London Gazette of 16th July 1940, Issue 34898
    - The London Gazette of 20th June 1941, Issue 35196
    - The London Gazette of 18th July 1941, Issue 35222
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd November 1942, Issue 35773, dated 6th November 1942
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 2nd June 1944, Issue 36544, dated 8th June 1944
    - Commonwealth War Graves Commission