Last surviving fighter pilot

I will be popping over to Canada either in the next few days or the first week of January to meet with Fl Lt Henry Botterell. He is now 102 years old and flew Camels and Snipes with 208Sq RNAS, in France 1918. If anyone has any questions or further info that may help me to prapare for my meeting with this living legend, please do give me a shout. I will post my definite dep.date within a day or so along with a Hotmail address but try to post any replies asap! Maxwell Crestborne

A'sk him if he ever met the RED DEVIL !

Great chance for some last-minute info. Please ask the gent his definition of a successful fighter pilot!

Yes,coud you please ask him howw many kills he got and were any of them Dr.1's?

I commend you for going up there. Be aware that Mr. Botterell's memory is very hazy, he told me that himself. (i met him in France this November). You will find him a very nice fellow and find that he will talk with you willingly. However his facts sometimes are confused or lost. If you have the fortune to be there with his son, Edward you will have abetter chance to decipher the facts.



He did shoot down one balloon which he will recount to you about if you ask. he waved at the observer while he descended in the parachute. He also has a scar on his head which is very noticable. This he may tell you was from a wound he got when his goggles were shot off in a fight. His son will tell you the scar is from a cancer operation last year. It is my understanding that he did have his goggles shot off and still has them in his collection. He did not have any encounters with the Red Baron though as he did not get into his fighter unti until about a month after the Baron had died.



he did however serve with the RFC a year or so earlier but crashed on one of his early flights.



I wish you the best. You will find him a very likeable fellow and surprisingly fit for his age. he looks as though he is in his late seventies or early eighties. If he were people would still say he looks good for his age.



Good luck i would be interested to hear how it turns out. I understand if you ask the right questions it siometimes primes his memory and he can tell you alot. Good luck again.