Operation "Chastise", 16/17th May 1943, Lancaster ED927/AJ-E:
Crashed at Haldern, Germany
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The fate of the crew of the airplane ED927/AJ-E:
It was one of 19 Lancaster bombers from 617 Squadron which set out on the celebrated attack a series of German dams on the night of May 16 1943. The raid inflicted massive damage but eight of the aircraft were lost, including AJ-E - with the call sign Easy - which crashed just outside the village of Haldern, near the German-Dutch border, on the way to its target.
Its revolutionary "bouncing bomb", designed by Barnes Wallis, with which other members of the squadron had attacked the dams, survived the crash and was recovered by the Germans. AJ-E was part of the second wave of Operation Chastise, the code name for the raid, and left the squadron's base at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, on the evening of May 16 after the first wave.
It headed towards its target of Sorpe Dam, about 25 miles south west of Dortmund. To avoid radar detection and anti aircraft guns and to dodge night fighters, the aircraft flew over Germany at altitudes of around 100ft.
However, the high risk tactic meant that AJ-E, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Robert Norman George Barlow, 31, from Carlton, Australia, flew into electricity pylons just before midnight.
The Lancaster ploughed into a field several hundred feet further on, where it burned fiercely.
The crew, which also included Pilot Officer Samuel Whillis, 31, Flying Officer Philip Burgess, 20, Pilot Officer Alan Gillespie, 20, Flying Officer Charles Williams, 34, who was Australian, Flying Officer Harvey Glinz, 22, who was Canadian, and Sergeant Jack Liddell, 18, were all killed in the crash, and their remains were buried at the nearby Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
The barrel-shaped bomb - code-named "Upkeep" - was thrown clear of the crash but did not detonate and was recovered by Heinz Schweizer, a leading bomb disposal operator. |
| Robert Norman George Barlow |
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Flight Lieutenant
401899
Distinguished Flying Cross
22 April 1911, Carlton, Melbourne City,
Victoria, Australia
16 May 1943
32
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Australian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Alexander and Frances May Barlow,
husband of Audrey May Barlow,
of St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia. |
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| Samuel Leslie Whillis |
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Pilot Officer (Flight Engineer)
144619
abt. 1912
16 May 1943
31
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Charles and Edith Whillis,
of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
husband of Gladys Winifred Whillis,
of Fenham, Newcastle-on-Tyne. |
| Philip Sidney Burgess |
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
124881
19. September 1922, Portsmouth, Hampshire
16 May 1943
20
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Willis Harold Burgess and
Marie Bessie Burgess, nee Taylor. |
| Charles Rowland Williams |
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Flying Officer
405224
Distinguished Flying Cross
19 March 1909, Hughenden, Queensland, Australia
16 May 1943
34
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Australian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Horace Edward and Hedwig Helena Williams,
of Torrens Creek, Queensland, Australia. |
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| Alan Gillespie |
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Pilot Officer (Air Bomber)
144205
Distinguished Flying Medal
16 November 1922, Westmorland, England
16 May 1943
20
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Robert and Margaret Gillespie, of Carlisle. |
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The Newcastle Journal reported:
Sergt. Alan Gillespie (now Pilot Officer) awarded the D. F. M., was born at Carlisle and was solicitor's clerk. In operational sorties against Germany and Italy, including Essen and Berlin. He obtained some excellent photographs.
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal:
This Air Bomber has carried out 30 successful sorties on all the main targets in Germany and Italy, including six attacks on Essen and five on Berlin. He has frequently obtained excellent photographs, one of his best being the aiming point on Krupps. He has shown himself cool and collected under heavy fire in the target area and has set an excellent example to others in his crew and the rest of the squadron. Strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. |
| Harvey Sterling Glinz |
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Flying Officer (Air Gunner)
J/10212
02 March 1922, Fort Rouge, Manitoba, Canada
16 May 1943
22
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
AJ-E
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Ernest Sterling Glinz and Pearl Emily Glinz,
of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
| Jack Robert George Liddell |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1338282
22 June 1924, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
16 May 1943
18
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Robert Hardinge Liddell,
and of Winnifred Lillian Liddell,
of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. |
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A newspaper published following text 50 years after the mission:
Fifty years ago 133 airmen departed on a deadly mission over deepest Germany - only 53 returned.
Little did they know that their exploits would lead to a film, a march, a book and paintings of the event and that they would be immortalised as the "Dambusters".
In commemoration of the bravery of the men who took part in the Dambusters raid, RAF Locking at Weston is staging a unique Spectacular.
For two local women the 50th anniversary events are certain to bring back many memories.
Mrs. Sheila Fenwick, 62, of Sherwood Crecent, Worle, tragically lost her brother in the perilous mission.
Jack Liddell from Weston joined the airforce when he was 17 and went to gunnery school. He later transferred to 617 Squadron where he became a sergeant and took part in the raid by the Lancaster bombers.
Out of 19 planes which left for the bombing of the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams, Jack was a rear gunner on one of the eight planes which did not return.
Massive
Mrs. Fenwick explained: "Flying was his life. It might sound strange but it would have been wanted to go", she said.
At the age of 18, Jack was the youngest to die in the attack which was massive blow to Germany's industrial power.
For Mrs. Jane Gingell, of the High Street, Nailsea, the Spectacular will also bring back memories of her late father.
During the second world war Mr. Stewart Allcott served as a Squadron Leader with the RAF.
Mr. Allcott was the co-ordinator between Professor Barnes Wallis, inventer of the bouncing bomb, and the Air Force.
He later moved to Nailsea where he was works manager at Coates the Cider Makers in 1952.
For the 50th anniversary of the raid, which took place on May 16, 1943, Grove Promotions has commissioned the English Philharmonic Orchestra to perform pieces associated with the Force.
The evening will end with a special rendition of the Dambusters March, accompanied by a stunning firework finale.
By Suzanne Evans. |
Operation "Chastise", 16/17th May 1943, Lancaster ED934/AJ-K:
Crashed into the Waddenzee, off Dutch coast.
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Reason for loss:
On 16/17th of May 1943 Lancaster III ED 934 AJ-K "King" left Scampton at 21.30 hours as part of Operation Chastise to bomb the Sorpe Dam.
ED 934 came to 617 Squadron on the 3rd of May with only 13 hours of flying time.
The Lancaster was hit by flak at 23.00 hours, from batteries on the Isle of Texel, on the Dutch Coast while flying at 300 feet outbound. It is believed that the aircraft strayed off course and as P/O. Byers and his crew tried to get a fix on their position, were shot down by flak. It crashed into the Waddenzee West of Harlingen and was the first aircraft shot down on this operation with the loss of all the crew. The body of Flight Sergeant McDowell RCAF was recovered on June 22nd and he was laid to rest in the Harlingen General Cemetery.
His crew mates have no known grave and are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
The text was taken from "Aircrew Remembered". Much more information and pictures on their site. |
| Vernon William Byers |
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Pilot Officer
J/17474
24 September 1919, Star City, Saskatchewan, Canada
CWGC: 1911
16 May 1943
32
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Frank and Ruby J. Byers,
of Codette, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
| Alastair James Taylor |
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Sergeant (Flight engineer)
575430
19 December 1922, Alves, Morayshire, Scotland
16 May 1943
20
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Stephen and Sarah Ann Taylor,
of Alves, Morayshire. |
| James Herbert Warner |
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
128619
19 May 1914, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England
16 May 1943
29
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
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| John Wilkinson |
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Sergeant (Wireless operator)
1025280
02 May 1922, Antrobus, Cheshire, England
16 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Thomas Wilfred and Ethel Wilkinson,
of Antrobus, Cheshire. |
| Arthur Neville Whitaker |
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Pilot Officer (Bomb aimer)
144777
08 September 1909, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
16 May 1943
33
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of James and Edith Whitaker. |
| Charles McAllister Jarvie |
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Sergeant (Front gunner)
1058757
09 May 1922, Glasgow, Scotland
16 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Charles and Nellie Jarvie, of Glasgow. |
| James McDowell |
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Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
R/101749
13 August 1910, Glasgow, Scotland
16 May 1943
32
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Harlingen General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of John and Agnes McDowell. |
Operation "Chastise", 16/17th May 1943, Lancaster ED910/AJ-C:
Crashed near Hamm, Germany.
| Warner Ottley |
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Pilot Officer (Pilot)
141460
Distinguished Flying Cross
abt. 1922, Putney, London, England
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Warner Herbert Taylor Ottley and
his wife Hilda, nee Edwards. |
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| Ronald Marsden |
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
568415
abt. 1920, Redcar, Yorkshire, England
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of William Frederick and Emily Ann Marsden,
of Redcar, Yorkshire. |
| Jack Kenneth Barrett |
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
115775
Distinguished Flying Cross
09 September 1920, Hackney, London, England
17 May 1943
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of David James Barrett and
Ethel Emily Barrett,
of Goodmayes, Essex. |
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| Jack Guterman |
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Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
1172550
Distinguished Flying Medal
01 August 1920, Guildford, Surrey, England
17 May 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Jack and Jane Guterman, nee Castello,
of Guildford, Surrey. |
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| Thomas Barr Johnston |
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Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)
1060657
19 July 1921, Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Peter F. Johnston, and
of Elizabeth B. Johnston,
of Bellshill, Lanarkshire. |
| Harry John Strange |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1395453
25 April 1923, Birkenhead, Merseyside, England
17 May 1943
20
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Margaret Elizebeth Strange,
and stepson of Robert William Lynn,
of Holloway, London. |
| Frederick "Fred" Tees |
| Frederick Tees survived the crash and was taken prisoner. |
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Sergeant (Rear Gunner)
16 June 1922, Chichester, Sussex, England
1982
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617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
His ashes were scattered on the
graves of his fallen comrades in
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Tees. |
Operation "Chastise", 16/17th May 1943, Lancaster ED865/AJ-S:
Crashed at Gilze Rijen, Netherlands.
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Reason for loss:
Lancaster III ED865 AJ-S took off from Scampton at 00:11 hours as part of the third and final wave of Operation Chastise. Arriving safely at the Dutch coast, P/O Burpee attempted to avoid the searchlights and flak, but the Lancaster was hit and caught fire, crashing onto the aerodrome at Gilze-Rijen, causing a massive explosion to the buildings.
Text taken from "Aircrew Remembered". More information and pictures on their site. |
| Lewis Johnstone Burpee |
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Pilot Officer (Pilot)
J/17115
Distinguished Flying Medal
05 March 1918, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
17 May 1943
25
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Lewis Arthur and Lilian Agnes Burpee,
of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,
husband of Lillian Emily Burpee,
of Ottawa. |
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| Guy Pegler |
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
573474
27 September 1921, Ringwood, Hampshire, England
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Claud Edwin and Charlotte Eva Pegler,
of Bath, Somerset. |
| Thomas Jaye |
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Sergeant (Navigator)
1299446
03 October 1922
17 May 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of James and Helena Jaye,
of Crook, Co. Durham. |
| Leonard George Weller |
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Pilot Officer (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
142507
abt. 1915, Edmonton, London, England
17 May 1943
28
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Arthur Edward and Marian Augusta Weller,
of Hornsey, Middlesex,
husband of Dorothy Charlotte Weller,
of Harpenden, Hertfordshire. |
| James Lamb Arthur |
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Warrant Officer Class II (Air Bomber)
R/119416
03 July 1917, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
17 May 1943
25
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of the Revd. Alfred John Arthur, B. A., B. Sc., B. D.,
and Dora Arthur,
of The Rectory, Coldwater, Ontario, Canada. |
| William Charles Arthur Long |
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1600540
abt. 1923, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England
17 May 1943
19
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of William and Ethel Mary Long,
of Bournemouth, Hampshire. |
| Joseph Gordon Brady |
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Warrant Officer Class II (Air Gunner)
R/93554
16 April 1916, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada
17 May 1943
27
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
AJ-S
Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of Micheal Joseph and Anna Margaret Brady,
of Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. |
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