Son of John Hennah Nettleton and Ethel Nettleton; husband of Betty Isobel Nettleton, of Paignton, Devon. Grandson of Admiral A T D. Nettleton. Born Nongoma, Natal Province, South Africa and lived in Rhodesia. Educated at Western Province Preparatory School in Cape Town from 1928 to 1930. Served as a Naval cadet on the South African Training Ship General Botha and then for 18 months in the South African Merchant Marine. He took up civil engineering, working in various parts of South Africa.
LG 24 April, 1942 pg. 1851 - "Squadron-Leader Nettleton was the leader of a bomber formation detailed to attack, in daylight on 17th April, 1942, the Diesel engine factory at Augsburg in Germany, a target of high military importance. To reach it and return meant a flight of one thousand miles over hostile territory. German fighters attacked, and only the leading bomber and one other remained to fly to the still distant target. Squadron-Leader Nettleton, with great spirit and almost defenceless, brought these two remaining aircraft, mostly at only fifty metres above the ground, to Augsburg, where they encountered intense anti-aircraft fire. Through fire from point-blank range, bombs were dropped on the target. The second aircraft was hit, burst into flames, and crash-landed. The leading aircraft, though riddled with holes, flew safely back to base, the only one of six to return. Squadron-Leader Nettleton, who has successfully undertaken many other hazardous operations, displayed unflinching determination as well as leadership and valour of the highest order." MID LG Sup 24 September 1941 pg. 5572