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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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