Biography:

SHELTON, MICHAEL HOWARD
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 609 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 29/02/1944
Service No: 150006
Additional information: Son of Robert Howard Shelton, D.S.O., and Gladys Marguerite Shelton, of Shirley, Croydon, Surrey. His brother Robert Anthony also died on service.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 1. Row A. Grave 16.
Cemetery: CAMBRAI (ROUTE DE SOLESMES) COMMUNAL CEMETERY

He was killed in action while flying a Typhoon, with No. 609 (WR) Squadron, straffing barges at Paillencourt, between Cambrai and Douai, on 29th February 1944. On 29th February 2004, exactly sixty years after, I organised the unveiling of a plaque at Paillencourt, where he died. The plaque was unveiled by George JASPIS, DFC, who was the last survivor of the 9 pilots who flew that mission.

We had no picture of Michael Howard SHELTON at the Squadron association, just a cartoon published in the Kent Messenger in January 1944.

Mike's elder brother was killed by a sniper in Italy in 1943, shortly before he was posted to No. 609 (WR) Squadron in mid-october 1943. There were no other siblings. His mother passed away in 1954 and his father in 1961 and the 'track' was cold.