Pilot Officer Lawrence Albert Chatterton was born on 23 June 1919 in New York, USA. He was the son of Lorraine Benton Chatterton (1892-1960) and Marie Louise Chatterton née Carlisle (b.1898). The family lived at 200 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, New York and on 2 September 1920 his parents were divorced. His father was remarried on 2 May 1931 to Loretta Hillman (1902-1978).
In 1941 he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 100987, in Canada and as a Pilot Officer he was assigned to No.71 (Eagle) Squadron based at RAF Debden.
He died, aged 22 years, on 22 October 1941 when he was flying his Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb, Serial No.AA-759, when it lost a wing whilst making a turn and crashed at Gowan Avenue, Fulham. A description of the event can be found on the Sussex History Forum website.
He was buried in Plot 21, Row A, Grave 13, in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Cemetery Pales, Brookwood, Woking, GU24 0BL. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
