General
gone for a burton
What does gone for a burton mean?
RAF euphemism for a pilot killed or shot down. Said with the stiff-upper-lip understatement of a generation that couldn't say 'dead' out loud. The aircrew slang equivalent of stepping out for a moment and never coming back.
"Johnny didn't make it back from the raid — gone for a Burton."
Origin
RAF, WWII. Origin contested — most popular theory ties it to Burton's beer (Burton-upon-Trent, the brewing town); a pilot who'd 'gone for a Burton' was off having a pint, a gentle euphemism for not coming back. Other theories point to Montague Burton the tailor (gone to be measured for a suit, i.e. a coffin).
Frequently asked questions
Who was Burton?
Nobody's certain. Best guesses are Burton's beer (Burton-upon-Trent), or Montague Burton the tailor — 'getting measured for a Burton' being grimly close to a coffin fitting.
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