op.chastise

Operation Chastise
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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.
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  1. DAMBUSTERS Burgess, Philip Sidney

    SURNAME Burgess FORENAME Philip Sidney UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER 124881 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1923 son of Willis and Marie Burgess RAF 1941 31...
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  2. DAMBUSTERS Whillis, Samuel Leslie

    SURNAME Whillis FORENAME Samuel Leslie UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER 144619 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 31 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1912 Newcastle-on-Tyne son of Charles and Edith...
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  3. DAMBUSTERS Barlow, Robert Norman George (Norm)

    SURNAME Barlow FORENAME Robert Norman George (Norm) UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.A.F. RANK Flight Lieutenant NUMBER 401899 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 32 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.9 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 22.4.1911 Carlton,Victoria,Australia...
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  4. DAMBUSTERS McDowell, James

    SURNAME McDowell FORENAME James UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Flight Sergeant NUMBER R/101749 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Harlingen General Cemetery,Netherlands Plot E Row 4 Grave 11 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Port Arthur,Ontario,Canada RCAF 1941...

  5. DAMBUSTERS Jarvie, Charles McAllister

    SURNAME Jarvie FORENAME Charles McAllister UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1058757 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Runnymede Memorial,Surrey,England Panel 154 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1922 Glasgow son of Charles and Nellie Jarvie,Glasgow...

  6. DAMBUSTERS Whitaker, Arthur Neville

    SURNAME Whitaker FORENAME Arthur Neville UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F. RANK Pilot officer NUMBER 144777 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Runnymede Memorial,Surrey,England Panel 134 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION enlisted RAF 3.9.1939 9 RW 10.5.1941 12 ITW 21.5.1941 4 AOS...

  7. DAMBUSTERS Wilkinson, John

    SURNAME Wilkinson FORENAME John UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1025280 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Runnymede Memorial,Surrey,England Panel 169 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1922 Antrobus,Cheshire son of Thomas Wilfred and Ethel...

  8. DAMBUSTERS Warner, James Herbert

    SURNAME Warner FORENAME James Herbert UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER 128619 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Runnymede Memorial,Surrey,England Panel 130 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RAF 1940 service number 1222006 2 RC 16.12.1940 Bridgenorth...

  9. DAMBUSTERS Taylor, Alastair James

    SURNAME Taylor FORENAME Alastair James UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 575430 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Runnymede Memorial,Surrey,England Panel 166 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1923 Alves,Morayshire son of Stephen and Sarah Ann...

  10. DAMBUSTERS Byers, Vernon William

    SURNAME Byers FORENAME Vernon William UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER J/17474 DATE OF DEATH 16th May 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Runnymede Memorial,Surrey,England Panel 175 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Flin Flon,Manitoba,Canada born 24.9.1919 Star...

  11. DAMBUSTERS Burrows, Norman Rupert

    SURNAME Burrows FORENAME Norman Rupert UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1503094 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RAF 1941 3 RC 14.6.1941 Reserve 15.6.1941 3 RC 16.10.1941 10 (S)...
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  12. DAMBUSTERS Tytherleigh, William John

    SURNAME Tytherleigh FORENAME William John UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER 120851 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany Coll.grave 5.B.16-18 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1922 Hove,Sussex son of A.P. and...
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  13. DAMBUSTERS Fuller, Michael John David

    SURNAME Fuller FORENAME Michael John David UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Pilot Officer NUMBER 143760 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany Coll.grave 5.B.16-18 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1920 West Wickham,Kent son of...
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  14. DAMBUSTERS Cottam, Alden Preston

    SURNAME Cottam FORENAME Alden Preston UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Warrant Officer Second Class NUMBER R/93558 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 30 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1913 Alberta,Canada son of Edwin A. and...
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  15. DAMBUSTERS Urquhart, Robert Alexander

    SURNAME Urquhart FORENAME Robert Alexander UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER J/9763 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany Coll.grave 5.B.16-18 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada...
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  16. DAMBUSTERS Marriott, John

    SURNAME Marriott FORENAME John UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1003474 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.4 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 19.1.1920 New Smithy,Buxton,Derbyshire son of Thomas Henry and...
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  17. DAMBUSTERS Maudslay, Henry Eric

    SURNAME Maudslay FORENAME Henry Eric UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Squadron Leader NUMBER 62275 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 21 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 5.C.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1912 resided Sherbourne,Nottinghamshire son of...
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  18. DAMBUSTERS Bolitho, Richard

    SURNAME Bolitho FORENAME Richard UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Sergeant NUMBER 1211045 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 23 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany 21.E.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 1920 Kimberly,Nottinghamshire son of William and Jane...
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  19. DAMBUSTERS Garbas, Francis Anthony (Frank)

    SURNAME Garbas FORENAME Francis Anthony (Frank) UNIT 617 Squadron,R.C.A.F. RANK Flight Sergeant NUMBER R/103201 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 19 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany Coll.grave 21.D.16-18 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Hamilton,Ontario,Canada...
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  20. DAMBUSTERS Hopkinson, Donald

    SURNAME Hopkinson FORENAME Donald UNIT 617 Squadron,R.A.F.V.R. RANK Flying Officer NUMBER 127817 DATE OF DEATH 17th May 1943 AGE 22 GRAVESITE Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,Germany Coll.grave 21.D.16-18 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 19.9.1920 Royton,Oldham,Lancashire son...
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