|
Reason for loss:
It was one minute past midnight on 16 September 1943, when Allsebrook
took off from Coningsby at the head of the second of two sections of four aircraft bound for the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Ladbergen.
The loss of W/C Holden en route, his aircraft was seen to be hit by light flak and to crash, Allsebrook assumbed command of the operation, and he was heard to make a number of radio transmissions authorising F/L Wilson and P/O Divall to carry out their attacks. Sometime around 02.20 BST Allsebrook crashed into the triangular basin at Bergeshövede where the Mittelland and Dortmund-Ems canals meet. Eyewitnesses described the Lancaster being engaged by flak and losing part of a wing. It was on fire as it crested the Huckberg and dropped towards the quayside on the north side of "das nasse Dreieck", the wet triangle. It clipped the roof of the house at the end of the row at the foot of the hill, collided with a crane, flipped over and fell into the water.
Text was taken from the book "Dambusters Crash Sites" (ISBN-13: 978-1844155682)
written by Chris Ward and Andreas Wachtel |
|
|
| Ralf Athelsie Pole Allsebrook |
 |
 |
Rank:
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Date of Birth:
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Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
62267
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross
abt. 1920
16 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of George Clarence and Dorothy Allnutt Allsebrook,
of Cark-in-Cartmel, Lancashire.
Qualified for B. A. (Oxon.). |
 |
Ralf Allsebrook was commissioned on 29th January 1941 and rose up through the ranks. He was involved in the Hamdpden P1248 crash when the aircraft hit a barrage-balloon cable and crashed in Concord Park near Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
The Observer/Instructor Jeffrey Bohun Ranson was killed but Ralf, the pilot, escaped by parachute. He was made up to Flying Officer and a year later to Flight Lieutenant. On 14th February 1942 he was returning from operations at Mannheim, Germany when his Hampden AE397 ran out of fuel and he ditched the aircraft off the Isle of Wight. He gained the DFC on 14th April 1942 with 49 Squadron and the DSO on 9th July 1943 but no citations for these awards have been found. He had been hand picked to serve in 617 Squadron, commonly referred to as the Dam Busters. He was considered to be one of Britain's finest bomber pilots though he had not been involved in the dams raid. |
 |
| Philip Moore |
 |
Rank:
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Flight Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
570619
04 August 1920
16 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Michael and Agnes Moore,
33, Flaxman Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. |
| Norman Arthur Botting |
 |
Rank:
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Age:
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Pilot Officer (Navigator)
51975
Distinguished Flying Cross
abt. 1913
16 September 1943
30
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Arthur and Violet Frederika Veronica Botting,
husband of Joan Alice Botting, of Cambridge. |
|
| Jacob Maurice Grant |
 |
Rank:
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Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Add. Information: |
Flying Officer (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
127489
Distinguished Flying Cross
09 February 1910
16 September 1943
33
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Marcus Grant, and of Constance Grant,
of Maida Vale, London. |
|
| Reginald Bertram Sidney Lulham (not confirmed) |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
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Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)
1271876
December 1921
16 September 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Thomas Bertram and May Lulham, nee Marchant
of Old Coulsdon, Surrey. |
| Ivor Glyn Jones |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1054939
16 September 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
|
| William Walker |
 |
Rank:
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Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1371707
abt. 1922
16 September 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Andrew and Bessie Walker,
nephew of Robert S. Miller,
of Carnoustie, Angus. |
| Samuel Hitchen |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
647480
16 September 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
|
 |
|
Reason for loss:
On this night Lancaster JA-874 was the last away from Coningsby, at around 00.04 hours, as part of the second wave led by acting S/L Allsebrook.
The divall crew would have experienced the same difficulties as the others in the conditions of poor visibility, particulary with regard to accurate navigation, and this probably led to the second wave reaching the target area about ten miles north of the briefed location south-west of Ladbergen. The Divall crew was the only one of Allsebrook's section to realise the error and search successfully for the genuine aiming point. Divall was actually searching an area to the north-east of Ladbergen, where the Mittelland Canal runs east to west before turning south to meet with the Dortmiund-Ems Canal in the Wet Triangle at Bergeshövede.
A witness at Steinbeck, a village on the southern bank of Mittelland Canal, heard an aircraft fly to and from between Achmer in the east and Bergeshövede. Eventually it approached her parent's farmhouse, flying east to west and parallel with the waterway on it's northern side, apparently on fire. The 12,000-lb bomb was dropped onto the northern bank a few hundred yards before the farmhouse was reached, where it exploded, and the Lancaster ploughed in a second or two later almost opposite the house. Most of the wreckage fell into the canal, but the rear turret with its occupant was catapulted to within a dozen or so yards of the rear of the house.
Text was taken from the book "Dambusters Crash Sites" (ISBN-13: 978-1844155682)
written by Chris Ward and Andreas Wachtel |
|
|
| William George Divall |
 |
Rank:
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Flying Officer (Pilot)
143890
14 February 1922, Thornton Heath, Surrey, England
16 September 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of William George and Edith Mary Divall,
of Thornton Heath, Surrey. |
| Ernest Cecil Allan Blake |
 |
Rank:
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Age:
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Cemetery:
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
548871
abt. 1919
16 September 1943
24
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Husband of Florence Gwendoline Blake,
of Little Horton, Bradford, Yorkshire. |
| Douglas William Warwick |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
J/11112
12 September 1918, Ontario, Canada
16 September 1943
25
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of William and Mary Watson Warwick, nee Fleck
of 293, Wright Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| James Stevenson Simpson |
|
Rank:
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Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator)
630257
abt. 1920
16 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Charles and Janet Simpson,
of Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland
husband of Jane B. Simpson, of Bo'ness. |
| Robert Campbell McArthur |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)
1551189
abt. 1922
16 September 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Edward and Alicia McArthur,
of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Austin Ainsworth Williams |
|
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1539602
abt. 1919
16 September 1943
24
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Austin Ainsworth Williams and Sarah Elizabeth Williams,
of Grangetown, Yorkshire. |
| Gerald Stanley Miles |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Pilot Officer (Air Gunner)
156040
01 January 1923
16 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Stanley Horace and Thurza Winifred Miles,
of Crossways, Gloucestershire. |
| Daniel Allatson |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Sergeant (Air Gunner)
553739
07 November 1923, Rochford, Essex, England
16 September 1943
19
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Samuel Eli and Dorothy Ellen Allatson,
of Upminster, Essex. |
|
|
Reason for loss:
Attacking The Dortmund Ems Canal, JB144 hit trees which were obscured by fog.
Both port engines were damaged as well as the tail. The crew jettesoned the bomb and anything else that was not bolted down to try and gain height. The aeroplane could only get to 1400ft and due to the damage, continued to turn to port. The order was given to bail out. Les Knight stayed at the controlls and when the other crew had jumped, tried to evacuate. As soon as the pressure was taken off the controlls the Lancaster crashed.
F/Ltn L. G. Knight lost his life but it survived:
P/O R. E. Greyson (POW)
F/O H. S. Hobday (Evader, returned)
P/O R. G. T. Kellow (Evader, returned)
F/O E. C. Johnson (Evader)
F/Sgt F. E. Sutherland (Evader, returned)
Sgt. J. Woolard (Evader)
F/Sgt H. E. O'Brien (POW) |
|
|
| Leslie Gordon Knight |
 |
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Flight Lieutenant
401449
Distinguished Service Order
07 March 1943, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia
16 September 1943
22
Royal Australian Air Force
Den Ham General Cemetery, Netherlands
Son of William Henry Harold and
Nellie Marsom Knight, nee Dean
of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. |
|
|
|
Reason for loss:
The Dortmund-Ems Canal operation of the 15/16th September 1943 involved eight Lancasters and crews from 617 Squadron, five of which failed to return. Among the missing was the crew of F/L Harold Wilson, who had trained for Operation Chastise, but were prevented through illness from taking part.
Despite the conditions of poor visibility, Wilson found the target near Ladbergen, and was in the process of making a bombing run when his aircraft was engaged by flak. On fire, JA-898 KC-X struck trees as Wilson sought to make a controlled landing. Wilson came down adjacent to the Canal, and the Lancaster burst into flames. It is believed that none of the eight occupants survived the impact. Some fifteen minutes later the 12,000 lb "Cookie" detonated.
Text was taken from the book "617 Dambuster Squadron at War" (ASIN: B00CWGI8B8)
written by Chris Ward |
|
Flight Lieutenant Harold Wilson and his crew, a reserve for the dams raid were also lost. Having been hit by flak he made a belly landing and blew up, the rear turret, with gunner Sergeant Eric Hornby still inside, was found on the northern side of the Mittelland Canal, with the body of the aircraft on the southern side.
Text was taken from the book "The Dam Buster Raid" (ISBN: 978-1-78159-474-2)
written by Alan W. Cooper |
|
|
| Harold Sidney Wilson |
|
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Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
118566
abt. 1915
16 September 1943
28
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Robert and Mary Wilson,
husband of Ivy Florence Wilson,
of Tottenham, Middlesex. |
| Thomas William Johnson |
 |
Rank:
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Age:
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Pilot Officer (Flight Engineer)
52112
October 1916, Hartlepool, Durham, England
16 September 1943
26
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Thomas and Lilian Johnson, nee Aungiers,
husband of Rita Alice Johnson, nee French. |
| James ALexander Rodger |
|
Rank:
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Age:
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Flying Officer (Navigator)
121558
abt. 1911
16 September 1943
32
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Hugh Alexander Rodger and
Elizabeth Jessie Rodger, of Edinburgh,
husband of Muriel Rodger, of Edinburgh. |
| George Henry Coles |
 |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
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Flying Officer (Bomb Aimer)
J/16476
07 December 1912, Vancouver, British Columbia
16 September 1943
30
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Charles Petley Coles and
Anna McGillivray Campbell,
husband of Joan Mark Coles,
of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
| Lloyd George Mieyette |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
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Date of Death:
Age:
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Cemetery:
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Warrant Officer Class I (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
R/107619
05 July 1921, Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada
16 September 1943
22
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Paul and Mabel Anne Mieyette, nee Gilbank |
| Trevor Herrington Payne |
|
Rank:
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Date of Birth:
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Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1257191
September 1920
16 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of James Herrington Payne and Alice Payne, nee Sheehan,
husband of Sarah Ellen Payne, nee Hodgson,
of Gateshead, Co. Durham. |
| Clifford Morrell Knox |
 |
 |
Rank:
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Date of Death:
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Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1029237
13 October 1911, Selby, Yorkshire, England
16 September 1943
31
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Oswald William and Eleanor Ann Knox, nee Morrell,
husband of Elsie M. Knox, nee Wood. |
| Goole Cemetery, East Riding of Yorkshire, England: |
 |
In
loving memory Of
Elsie,
beloved wife of Clifford Knox,
born April 17th 1913,
died March 7th 1941.
"In small proportions we
just beauties see;
and in short measures life
may perfect be." |
Also the above
Clifford M. Knox
killed in action over Germany
Sept. 16th 1943. Aged 31 years.
Interred at Ladbergen.
"Re-united" |
| Eric Hornby |
 |
Rank:
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Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1304938
16 September 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
|
|
|
Reason for loss:
Flying at low level en route to attack the Dortmund Ems Canal, the aeroplane climbed to avoid a church steeple. A light Flak gun opened up and struck the starboard inner fuel tank igniting it. EE144 crashed on the edge of the town Nordhorn-Altendorf.
Most of the crew flew with Guy Gibson on the Dams Raid. |
|
|
| George Walton Holden |
 |
 |
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Squadron Leader (Pilot)
103484
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross
abt. 1913
16 September 1943
30
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Frederick Charles Holden, and
of Beatrice Holden,
of Twickenham. Middlesex. |
|
|
| Dennis John Dean Powell |
 |
Rank:
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Cemetery:
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Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
644741
abt. 1922
16 September 1943
21
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Easton Walter and Ada Winifred Powell,
of Sidcup, Kent. |
| Harlo Torger Taerum |
 |
Rank:
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Flight Lieutenant (Navigator)
J/16688
Distinguished Flying Cross
22 May 1920, Milo, Alberta, Canada
16 September 1943
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
|
|
| Robert Edward George Hutchison |
 |
 |
Rank:
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Flight Lieutenant (Air Gunner)
120854
Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar
26 April 1918, Liverpool, Lancashire
16 September 1943
25
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Robert George and Ada Louisa Hutchison,
of Liverpool. |
|
| Frederick Michael Spafford |
 |
 |
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Flying Officer
407380
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
16 June 1918
16 September 1943
25
Royal Australian Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of James Michael Bourke Spafford
and Vida Muriel Spafford. |
|
 |
The Advertiser, Adelaide, reports on 28 May 1943:
Second Decoration for Young S. A. Airman.
Flt.-Lt. D. J. Shannon DFC., son of Mr. Shannon, MP. and Mrs. Shannon, Bridgwater, has been awarded the DSO and PO Fred Spafford, nephew of the Director of Agriculture (Mr. W. J. Spafford) the DFC for their part in the attack on the Eder Dam.
Flt-Lt. Shannon who celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday, was awarded the DFC in January. Flt.-Lt. Shannon joined up soon after his 18th birthday. Wing Commander Gibson is his commanding officer. "Wing Commander Gibson is a marvellous pilot, and a marvellous man. I will eat my hat if he doesn’t get the Victoria Cross". This statement was made soon after the raid by PO Fred Spafford, who was bomb-aimer of the Lancaster piloted by Wing Commander Gibson. PO Spafford already holds the DFM. Since he was three - he is now 23 - PO Spafford has been brought up by Mr. and Mrs. Spafford as their adopted son. |
| George Andrew Deering |
 |
 |
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Flying Officer (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
J/17245
Distinguished Flying Cross
23 July 1919, Kirkintilloch, Scotland
16 September 1943
24
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
AJ-G
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Son of Samuel Deering and
of Martha Deering (nee Ballagh),
of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
|
Of Irish descent, George Andrew Deering was born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland, on 23 July 1919. His family emigrated to Canada when he was a boy, and he went to school in Toronto. He joined the RCAF in July 1940 and after training in Canada arrived in England in April 1941 as a Wireless Operator/Gunner.
Deering spent about a year in 103 Squadron, at RAF Elsham Wolds, which at the time was flying Halifaxes, and completed a full tour of operations. He was then sent to an Operational Training Unit, and was commissioned in February 1943, although this information didn't seem to reach 617 Squadron until after the Dams Raid.
How he was allocated to Gibson's crew is a bit of a mystery. With some 35 operations, he was far from the novice described in Enemy Coast Ahead: "In the front turret was Jim [sic] Deering from Toronto, Canada, and he was on his first [sic] bombing raid. He was pretty green, but one of our crack gunners had suddenly gone ill and there was nobody else for me to take."
Later in the book, Gibson calls him 'Joe' and in the dedication he is referred to as "Tony". Giving a member of your own crew three different first names may well be a record, even for this book which is littered with editorial errors. Also, Deering was posted into 617 Squadron on 29 March, so was hardly a last minute replacement.
For his part in the raid, Deering was awarded a DFC, recognition at last that he was an officer by the time of the raid. Along with Taerum, Hutchison and Spafford he transferred to George Holden's crew, and died with all of them when they were shot down on the Dortmund Ems Canal operation on 16 September 1943. |
A local newspaper reported:
Won D. F. C. as "Dam-Buster"
George Deering now dead
Presented with the DFC by the Queen for his part in the daring "dam-buster" raid of last May, Pilot Officer George A. Deering, later reported missing, is now presumed dead, according to word reaching his father, Sam Deering, Belsize drive.
"Only a few days ago I received a letter from the King and Queen and one from Hon. Vincent Massey", the father said Tuesday. "Both letters paid tribute to his work."
Born in Scotland, Pilot Officer Deering showed a keen interest in aviation soon after coming to Canada 16 years ago. As a member of the Toronto Flying club, he was grounded for two months when he made a forced landing in a pasture. The restriction on his flying was imposed, his father recalled, because the plane frightened a number of cows and the farmer complained. The landing was made in dense fog.
He enlisted in the R. C. A. F. in 1940 and began training as a wireless air-gunner. Later he took a pilot's course and received his wings at Jarvis. He went overseas in 1941. He amassed well over 1,000 flying hours and took part in more than 36 operations. |
| Henry James Pringle |
 |
Rank:
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Flying Officer (Air Gunner)
118900
Distinguished Flying Cross
16 September 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
|
|
| Thomas Alfred Meikle |
 |
Rank:
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Pilot Officer (Air Gunner)
52913
Distinguished Flying Medal
September 1920, Liverpool, Lancashire
16 September 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
|
|
|
|
Reason for loss:
Crashed into the North Sea after raid was aborted. |
| David John Hatfeild Maltby |
 |
 |
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Squadron Leader (Pilot)
60335
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross
10 May 1920, Baldslow, Sussex, UK
15 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Wickhambreux (St. Andrew) Churchyard, Kent, UK
Son of Ettrick G. Maltby and
of Aileen E. Maltby (nee Hatfeild),
husband of Georgina Maltby,
of Wickhambreux. |
|
Maltby flew in the No. 617 Squadron RAF Operation Chastise dams raid of 1943. He was the pilot for Avro Lancaster J-Johnny, flying as part of the first wave that attacked the Möhne Dam. The first three aircraft to attack the dam (Guy Gibson flying in G-George, Hopgood in M-Mother and Harold Brownlow Martin in P-Popsie) all missed the target. The next, A-Apple (flown by Dinghy Young) hit the dam and caused a small breach; but as this was not apparent from the air, J-Johnny also attacked, scored a hit, causing a large breach. Maltby then returned home and was the first Lancaster to land back at Scampton having completed the operation.
For his part in Operation Chastise, Maltby was awarded a Distinguished Service Order. He was shortly after promoted to Squadron Leader and appointed as A flight commander for No. 617 Squadron.
Maltby was killed a few months after the dams raid during Operation Garlic, a failed attempt at a low-level raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. His Lancaster JA981 crashed into the North Sea while returning to base after the mission had been cancelled due to fog over the target. It is almost certain that the cause of his death was a collision with a 139 Squadron Mosquito aircraft (DZ598) piloted by Flt Lt M W Colledge and navigator Flg Off G L Marshall, who were returning from an operation to Berlin, and was on a course for Wyton, Cambridgeshire. It was northeast of Cromer when it intersected Maltby's course to Coningsby. Dave Shannon, a fellow dambuster, circled the crash site for two hours whilst waiting for rescue. Maltby's body was the only one recovered and he was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Wickhambreaux, Kent.
More information on Wikipedia. |
|
| William Hatton |
|
Rank:
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Age:
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Cemetery:
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Sergeant
1013557
24 March 1920, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
15 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of George and Florence Hatton,
of Wakefield, Yorkshire. |
| Vivian Nicholson |
 |
Rank:
Service No.:
Awards:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant
1144183
Distinguished Flying Medal
March 1923, Sherburn, Co. Durham, England
15 September 1943
20
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Arthur Timothy Reed Nicholson and
Elizabeth Ellen Victoria Nicholson,
of Sherburn. Co. Durham. |
|
| Anthony Joseph Stone |
|
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: |
Flight Sergeant
1311959
05 December 1920, Winchester, Hampshire, England
15 September 1943
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Joseph and
Dorothy Grace Stone, nee Bazeley
of Winchester. |
| John Fort |
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Flying Officer
49575
Distinguished Flying Cross
14 January 1912, Colne, Lancashire, England
15 September 1943
31
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of George and Martha Jane Fort, nee Dearden,
of York. |
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John Fort was born on the Lancashire side of the Pennines, in the cotton town of Colne, on 14 January 1912, one of six brothers. At 31, he was the oldest member of David Maltby's crew. After attending Christchurch School in the town, he went into the RAF in 1929 to train as an apprentice, going to the No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. This was the famous training establishment set up by Lord Trenchard ("the father of the RAF") to supply the technicians needed to support aircrew and maintain aircraft. After completing the three year course he was posted to the Central Flying School and then went to sea in the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious. (Between 1918 and 1937 the RAF operated the aircraft which flew on aircraft carriers, and supplied its own ground staff to service them.)
Back on dry land, he continued in groundcrew until the second year of the war, when he volunteered for aircrew training. Selected as a specialist bomb aimer (or air bomber, to give the job its proper name) he went off to a Bombing and Gunnery School, where students were taught a lot of theory as well as the practical aspects, such as map reading and simulator training, learning exactly where to drop the weapon. They moved on to practice air-to-ground bombing runs over ranges where they dropped 25 lb smoke bombs.
This is where they developed the real skills. The bomb aimer took over the navigation of the aircraft from the navigator as they approached the target and began a bombing run. It was he who would call out to the pilot over the intercom the small direction changes needed, from his position lying ?at out in the nose. From a height of 1,000 ft, the bomb aimer would be expected to be able to hit a target with an accuracy of under 50 yards.
At the end of his course John had done well enough to be offered a commission and so it was as a Pilot Officer he arrived at No.10 OTU in September 1942, at RAF St Eval. After completing the course there, where he also met Vivian Nicholson and Antony Stone, he went with them to 1660 Conversion Unit, and on to 207 Squadron. The citation for the DFC that he later received for Operation Chastise says that he had completed one operation before joining 617 Squadron. As there appears to be no record of him flying on an operation in 207 Squadron, he may have been credited with one while at the OTU, as some anti-submarine patrols were flown from there.
For his role in Operation Chastise, John Fort received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He was promoted to Flying Officer in August 1943.
Published from Christine Smith in June 2015. |
| Victor Hill |
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Flight Sergeant
1315729
15 September 1943
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
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| John Lawrence Welch |
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Warrant Officer
744932
Distinguished Flying Medal
abt. 1920
15 September 1943
23
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Welch,
of Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire,
husband of E. M. Welch,
of Cranwell, Lincolnshire. |
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| Harold Thomas Simmonds |
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Sergeant
1248156
25 December 1921, Burgess Hill, Sussex, England
15 September 1943
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK
Son of Thomas and Elizebeth Simmonds,
of Burgess Hill, Sussex. |
© Lost Ancestors 2020
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