Reason for loss:
Taking off from RAF Scampton at 21:39 hrs to bomb the Möhne Dam. His aircraft was on the second wave. However some 20 minutes prior to reaching the target the aircraft was hit by flak the pilot was injured, and it is thought that the front gunner, Sgt. Gregory had been killed during this. The pilot asked the crew if they should continue to the dam as he thought the Lancaster was totally controllable - the crew that were able to reply affirmed this.
Just 10 minutes later they were then hit again by the intense flak, one engine caught fire. The pilot released his bomb to try and gain height to enable his crew to bale out. 3 crew did manage to leave the aircraft but Sgt. John Minchin who was badly injured never survived the drop.
The "special" bomb missed the target but hit and destroyed the power station. Sadly the blast from the bomb crippled the aircraft and crashed at 00:34 hrs at Ostönnen.
The tail gunner heard Hopgood's last known words on the intercom before he left - "For Christ's sake get out!". ED925's fuel tanks exploded and the wreckage ploughed into a field.
The text was taken from "Aircrew Remembered". Much more information and pictures on their site. |
| John Vere Hopgood |
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Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
61281
Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar
29 August 1921, Hurst, Berkshire
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Harold Burn Hopgood and Grace Hopgood,
of Seaford, Sussex. |
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| Kenneth Earnshaw |
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
J/10891
23 June 1918, Bridlington, Yorkshire, England
17 May 1943
24
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Joseph George Earnshaw,
husband of Mary Gladys Earnshaw, nee Heather
of Alberta, Canada. |
| Charles Christopher Brennan |
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
942037
22 February 1916, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
17 May 1943
27
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Christopher and Freda Brennan, nee Pemberton. |
| John William Minchin |
 |
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Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
1181097
abt. 1916
17 May 1943
27
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Bertram and Eliza Minchin,
husband of Jessie Kate Minchin,
of Bedford. |
| George Henry Ford Goodwin Gregory |
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Flying Officer (Air Gunner)
141285
Distinguished Flying Medal
24 June 1917, Govan, Glasgow
17 May 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Edwin and Agnes Gregory. |
 |
To the crew also belonged Pilot Officer John William Fraser (R. C. A. F.) and Flying Officer Anthony Fisher Burcher (R. A. A. F.). Both survived the crash.
Operation "Chastise", 16/17th May 1943, Lancaster ED887/AJ-A:
Crashed into the North Sea off Dutch coast.
Reason for loss:
At 21:47, Lancaster AJ-A (ED887) flown by Squadron Leader Melvin 'Dinghy' Young, took off in the second section of the first wave towards Germany. This wave consists of three flights of three Lancasters and they flying via southern Netherlands towards the Möhne dam in Germany. Without problems Lancaster AJ-A reaches the Möhne dam, and if the dam is not yet broken, AJ-A will be the fourth Lancaster that will attack. The first three Lancasters are not successful, AJ-A is the next one and performs a perfect attack. The dam seems to be intact at first sight, during the attack of the next Lancaster (David Maltby) the top of the dam beginning to crumble and a breach starts to emerge. David Maltby drops his 'Upkeep' and making the breach in the dam wider. Through the opening the water flows into the valley and destroys factories, power stations, railway bridges and houses.
The attack on the Möhne dam is a great success. There are still three Lancasters with an 'Upkeep', under command of Guy Gibson and Melvin Young the Lancasters flying towards the Eder dam. Melvin Young was assigned to act as deputy leader in case anything should happen with Guy Gibson. The attack on the Eder dam is also a success. This group is now without 'Upkeeps' and they returning to RAF Scampton.
On the way back they flying as low as possible through three predetermined routes towards England. These routes are known as weaker defended (flak gaps). AJ-A takes the third route that goes from Germany towards Harderwijk via the island of Marken and towards Egmond.
Arrived at the Dutch coast, AJ-J is too far to the south, close to the heavily defended Ijmuiden and within the range of the German anti-aircraft guns near Wijk aan Zee. According to the German reports, a report was made at 02.57 by the crew of the German anti-aircraft guns near Wijk aan Zee that they hit a Halifax (they think the Lancaster is a Halifax). At 02.58 AJ-A crashed south of Castricum aan Zee, all seven crew members were killed, and washed ashore between Wijk aan Zee and Egmond aan Zee, the last crew member at Castricum aan Zee on 30 May 1943. The crew members are buried at Bergen General Cemetery (North Holland). |
| Henry Melvin Young |
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Squadron Leader (Pilot)
72478
Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar
20 May 1915, Belgravia, London, England
17 May 1943
27
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Henry George Melvin Young and
Fannie Rowan Young,
husband of Priscilla Rawson Young,
of Kent, Connecticut, U.S.A.
M. A. (Oxon.). |
|
Obituary
Henry Melvin Young Jr., D. F. C., Squadron-Leader, Royal Air Force, son of Mrs. Rowan Young of 1030 Buena Vista, South Pasadena, California, and of Mr. Henry Melvin Young of London, England, and husband of Priscilla Rawson Young of Ravenscroft, Kent, Connecticut, was shot down and passed away in active service May 17, 1943. Interment in Holland. |
| Read more about Henry Melvin Young on Wikipedia. |
| Charles Walpole Roberts |
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Flight Sergeant (Navigator)
1269945
19 January 1921, Northrepps, Norfolk, England
17 May 1943
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
The only son of Charles Augustus and Dorcas Roberts. |
|
St. Mary's Churchyard, Northrepps, Norfolk, England: |
 |
In loving memory of
Lily Elizabeth Walpole
died 1959, aged 85 years.
Also
Walter Henry Walpole
died 1961, aged 89 years. |
And their daughter
Dorcas Elizabeth Roberts
died 7th October 1976
aged 80 years.
Also commemorating her son
Charles Walpole Roberts
died in action May 1943
aged 22 years. |
| Vincent Sanford MacCausland |
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Flying Officer (Observer)
J/15309
01 February 1913, Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island, Canada
17 May 1943
30
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of John Henry Burns MacCausland and
Edith Katie MacCausland,
of Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island, Canada. |
| David Taylor Horsfall |
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
568924
16 April 1920, Bramley, Yorkshire
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Robinson and Emma Horsfall,
of Hove, Sussex.
His brother Alan Albert also died on service. |
| Lawrence William Nichols |
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Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
1377941
17 May 1910, Northwood, Middlesex
17 May 1943
33
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Nichols,
husband of Georgina Nichols,
of Westgate, Kent. |
| Gordon Arthur Yeo |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1317656
September 1922, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
17 May 1943
20
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Arthur and Ada Yeo,
of Barry Dock, Glamorgan. |
| Wilfred Ibbotson |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
655431
abt. 1914, Nethertown, Yorkshire, England
17 May 1943
29
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Herbert and Anne Ibbotson,
husband of Doris Ibbotson, nee Bray,
of Bretton West, Yorkshire. |
Reason for loss:
The Lancaster bomber, call sign 'AJ-Z for Zebra', was scheduled to attack the Möhne dam but was reassigned because the Möhne had been breached before their turn came. Instead, they flew on to the Eder dam, where they made two trial runs before releasing the 'bouncing bomb' on the third. The bomb was released a little too late. It exploded on the parapet of the dam instead of the front elevation, just as the aircraft was flying over, and the Lancaster was damaged by the explosion. The crew began their journey back to RAF Scampton but Flying Officer Tytherleigh died, aged 21, with the rest of the seven-man crew, when the plane was shot down at 2.35 am over Emmerich in Germany.
The text was taken from "Tytherleigh". Much more information and pictures on their site. |
| Henry Eric Maudslay |
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Squadron Leader (Pilot)
62275
Distinguished Flying Cross
21 July 1921, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Reginald Walter and Susan Gwendolen Maudslay,
of Broadway, Worcestershire. |
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| John Marriott |
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
1003474
Distinguished Flying Medal
19 January 1920, New Smithy, Derbyshire, England
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Thomas Henry and Lois Marriott,
of Chinley, Cheshire. |
|
Obituary
Flt. Sgt. John R. (Jack) Marriott, 26 years old son of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Marriott, 2 Hartington Place, previously reported as missing in air operations since April, and now officially reported as dead.
A native of Ottawa he was a graduate of the Lisgar Collegiate and the High School of Commerce. Enlisting in June, 1941, he received his training at Toronto and London, later graduating from No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal. He proceeded overseas in June, 1942. Prior to his enlistment he was employed by the Canadian Electric Company, Ottawa.
Burial took place in the military cemetery at Düsseldorf, Germany. |
| Robert Alexander Urquhart |
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
J/9763
Distinguished Flying Cross
02 August 1919, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
17 May 1943
24
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander J. Urquhart. |
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| Alden Preston Cottam |
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Warrant Officer Class II (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
R/93558
abt. 1913
17 May 1943
30
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Edwin A. and Margaret A. Cottam,
of Jasper Park, Alberta, Canada. |
| Michael John David Fuller |
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Pilot Officer (Navigator)
143760
28 April 1920, Reigate, Surrey, England
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Reginald Edward and
Frances Elizabeth Fuller, nee Mansell,
of West Wickham, Kent. |
| William John Tytherleigh |
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Flying Officer (Air Gunner)
120851
Distinguished Flying Cross
8 November 1921, Cambridge
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of A. P. and Julia Tytherleigh,
of Hove, Sussex. |
| Norman Rupert Burrows |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1503094
31 August 1914, Toxeth Park, Lancashire, UK
17 May 1943
28
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Norman Rupert Burrows and
Jane Burrows, nee Jones |
 |
Reason for loss:
Lancaster III ED864 AJ-B left Scampton at 21.59 hours as part of the final section of the first wave of Operation Chastise to bomb the Möhne Dam.
Along with Pilot Officer Knight and Squadron Leader Maudslay and crews, they proceeded into Germany. The other two crews altered course but Fl/Lt. Astell became slightly off course and on reaching a canal crossing, which was actually the correct place, turned South down the canal as though to search for the correct position.
ED864 collided with an electricity pylon before bursting into flames and crashing into fields behind some farmhouses with its bomb on fire which continued to roll onwards before exploding. At the same time machine guns continued to fire from the burning aircraft.
Eyewitnesses who ran to the crash scene were unable to get close owing to the ammunition still discharging. A very deep bomb crater about 12 metres wide was left.
Many buildings nearby had roofs torn off and windows smashed but miraculously a statue of St.Joseph holding the baby Jesus, on the edge of the crater remained untouched.
The text was taken from "Aircrew Remembered". Much more information and pictures on their site. |
| William Astell |
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Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
60283
Distinguished Flying Cross
01 April 1920, Knutsford, Cheshire
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Capt. Godfrey Grant Astell and
Margery Helen Astell, nee March-Philips,
of Manchester. |
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| John Kinnear |
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
635123
abt. 1922, Newport, Fife, Scotland
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of William and Helen Kinnear,
of East Newport, Fife. |
| Floyd Alvin Wile |
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Pilot Officer (Navigator)
J/16872
17 April 1919, Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, Canada
17 May 1943
24
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Harris A. and Annabelle B. Wile,
of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. |
| Abram Garshowitz |
 |
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Warrant Officer Class II (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
R/84377
11 December 1921, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
17 May 1943
22
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Samuel Garshowitz,
of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Donald Hopkinson |
 |
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Flying Officer (Air Bomber)
127817
19 September 1920, Royton, Lancashire, England
17 May 1943
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Harold and Sarah Hopkinson,
of Royton, Lancashire. |
| Francis Anthony Garbas |
 |
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Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
R/103201
July 1922, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
17 May 1943
20
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Stanley and Mary Garbas,
of 577, Burlington Street, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. |
| Richard Bolitho |
 |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1211045
abt. 1920
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of William and Jane Bolitho,
of Portrush, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. |
| Derry City Cemetery, Londonderry, Northern Ireland: |
 |
In Loving Memory Of
Jane Cuthbertson
Braehead
died 25 November 1915
aged 67 years.
also her Husband
Robert Cuthbertson
died 24 February 1927
aged 81 years |
Also their Grandson
Richard Bolitho
Flight Sergeant R. A. F. V. R.
Killed in Action
Ruhr Dams
17th May 1943, aged 23 years
Interred in City Cemetery
Borken Germany |
Their Daughter
Jane Bolitho
died 13th Nov 1964 Aged 89
and her husband
William Bolitho
died on 9th May 1953, aged 73. |
|
