Nolan Butts was born in Barrachos Brook, Newfoundland in March 1919 and was the son of Talbot and Florence Butts. When he enlisted into the RCAF in April 1941 he was living on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. He first served in ground units in Canada before re-mustering as aircrew later in the year. Before leaving Canada he married and his wife Florence Butts of Mira Gut, Nova SCotia in 1943 but who was later listed as living in Lachine, Province of Quebec, Canada. After training as aircrew in Canada he arrived in the UK in November 1942 and trained at 15 OTU before receiving a posting to Driffield to join 196 Squadron in March 1943. He appears to have escaped the crash of Wellington HE163 uninjured but just four days later on 5th June 1943 he was admitted to hospital in Driffield with an appendicitis. He must have recovered quickly as he was later posted back to 196 Squadron on 12th July 1943 and then converted to the Stirling type with 1651 HCU the same month. He returned to 196 Squadron the following month and continued to fly with Deans, Bothwell and Vickers. On the night of 5th September 1943 they were flying in Stirling HE950 to Mannheim when they were attacked by a fighter and the Stirling was damaged. Nolan Butts returned fire and shot down the attacker and the aircraft returned to the UK landing at Newmarket. For their actions on this night F/O Deans and F/Sgt Butts were awarded the DFC and DFM respectively. Gazetted on 5th October 1943 the citation was a joint one and reads.. "One night in September 1943, Flying Officer Deans and Sergeant Butts were pilot and rear gunner of an aircraft which attached Mannheim. Shortly after the bombs were released the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters. In the first attack the bomber was hit and Sergeant Butts' guns suddenly failed to operate. Nevertheless this airman cooley gave his pilot directions in offensive action and at the same time cleared his guns of their stoppages. Further attacks were made by the enemy fighters but owing to Sergeant Butts' skilful commentary Flying Officer Deans so manoeuvered his aircraft that one of the attackers was shot down. This officer and airman displayed great skill and courage." Hugh Halliday's RCAF awards research has been used in compiling his biog as well as his service file. His photograph I credit Danny & Eric Nolan via CVWM.

On 17th October 1943 he and James Deans were giving 196 Squadron Stirling EF960 a test flight when the aircraft crashed into The Wash some miles off Kings Lynn, Norfolk with the loss of the whole crew. WO2 Butts was twenty four years old and he and James Deans are both commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

James Deans received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 7th August 1942 and was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 7th February 1943. I thank Mr Steve Smith for supplying the photograph of him displayed above.