op.chastise

Operation Chastise

Operation Chastise​

Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, later called the Dam Busters, using a purpose-built "bouncing bomb" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians – about 600 Germans and 1,000 forced labourers, mainly Soviet – died. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September.
  1. Frank Tees

    Frank Tees

    born 1923 son of Freddie and Elizabeth Tees (died May 1944 when Liberator crashed into the laundry in which she worked) RAF 1941 Uxbridge 6.1.1941 1 RC 14.1.1941 7 RC 1941 3 SGR 14.3.1941 10 SRC 20.8.1941 Hatfield November 1941 50 GRD 22.11.1941 ACRC 2.6.1942 14 ITW 2 AGS 17.7.1942...
  2. Anthony Burcher

    Anthony Burcher

    Anthony Fisher (Tony) Burcher born 15.3.1922 North Sydney,New South Wales,Australia next of kin Margaret Burcher enlisted RAAF 11.12.1940 Sydney,New South Wales,Australia to Canada 22.2.1941 Sergeant 1.9.1941 to England 15.9.1941 106 Squadron 1941-42 Sergeant award DFM (20.4.1943) (27...
  3. John Fraser

    John Fraser

    John William Fraser from Nanaimo,British Columbia,Canada born 22.9.1922 Nanaimo,British Columbia,Canada student in civilian life RCAF married Doris Wilkinson,Doncaster,Yorkshire 29.4.1943 50 Squadron Pilot Officer 14.3.1943 (J/17696) 617 Squadron March 1943 air bomber Lancaster ED925...
  4. DAMBUSTERS Brady, Joseph Gordon

    SURNAME Brady FORENAME Joseph Gordon UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Warrant Officer Second Class NUMBER R/93554 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 27 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands 23.A.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1916 Ponoka,Alberta,Canada son of...
  5. DAMBUSTERS Long, William Charles Arthur

    SURNAME Long FORENAME William Charles Arthur UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1600540 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 19 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands Coll.grave 24.B.5-7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1924 Bournemouth,Hampshire son of...
  6. DAMBUSTERS Arthur, James Lamb

    SURNAME Arthur FORENAME James Lamb UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Warrant Officer Second Class NUMBER R/119416 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 25 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands Coll.grave 24.B.5-7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Toronto,Ontario,Canada...
  7. DAMBUSTERS Weller, Leonard George

    SURNAME Weller FORENAME Leonard George UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER 142507 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 28 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands 27.A.6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1915 Harrow,Middlesex son of Arthur Edward and...
  8. DAMBUSTERS Jaye, Thomas

    SURNAME Jaye FORENAME Thomas UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1299446 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands Coll.grave 24.B.5-7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 3.10.1922 Crook,Co.Durham son of James and Helena...
  9. DAMBUSTERS Pegler, Guy

    SURNAME Pegler FORENAME Guy UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 573474 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands Coll.grave 24.B.5-7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1921 Bath,Somerset son of Claud Edwin and Charlotte Eva...
  10. DAMBUSTERS Burpee, Lewis Johnstone

    SURNAME Burpee FORENAME Lewis Johnstone UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER J/17115 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 25 GRAVESITE Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery,Netherlands 23.B.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 5.3.1918 Ottawa,Ontario,Canada son of Lewis Arthur...
  11. DAMBUSTERS Strange, Harry John

    SURNAME Strange FORENAME Harry John UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1395453 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 31.F.13 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1923 Holloway,London son of Margaret Elizebeth Strange...
  12. DAMBUSTERS Johnston, Thomas Barr

    SURNAME Johnston FORENAME Thomas Barr UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Flight Sergeant NUMBER 1060657 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 31.F.15 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Peter F. and Elizabeth B...
  13. DAMBUSTERS Guterman, Jack

    SURNAME Guterman FORENAME Jack UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1172550 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 31.F.12 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1920 Guildford,Surrey son of Jack and Jane...
  14. DAMBUSTERS Barrett, Jack Kenneth

    SURNAME Barrett FORENAME Jack Kenneth UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER 115775 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 31.F.14 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1921 Goodmayes,Essex son of David James and Ethel...
  15. DAMBUSTERS Marsden, Ronald

    SURNAME Marsden FORENAME Ronald UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 568415 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 31.F.10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1920 Redcar,Yorkshire son of William Frederick and Emily Ann...
  16. DAMBUSTERS Ottley, Warner

    SURNAME Ottley FORENAME Warner UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER 141460 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 31.F.11 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RAF 1941 1 RC 20.1.1941 54 Group 8 ITW 8.3.1941 31 EFTS 15.6.1941...
  17. DAMBUSTERS Liddell, Jack Robert George

    SURNAME Liddell FORENAME Jack Robert George UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1338282 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 18 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1925 Weston-super-Mare,Somerset son of Robert...
  18. DAMBUSTERS Glinz, Harvey Sterling

    SURNAME Glinz FORENAME Harvey Sterling UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER J/10212 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.8 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1921 Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada son of Ernest Sterling...
  19. DAMBUSTERS Gillespie, Alan

    SURNAME Gillespie FORENAME Alan UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER 144205 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION son of Robert and Margaret Gillespie,Carlisle solicitor's clerk...
  20. DAMBUSTERS Williams, Charles Rowland

    SURNAME Williams FORENAME Charles Rowland UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.A.F. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER 405224 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 34 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.11 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 19.3.1909 Townsville,Queensland,Australia resided...
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