Dambusters Blog

77 thoughts on “Dambusters: a complete list of everyone who took part in Operation Chastise”

1. Adam Maltby September 20, 2008 / 10:54 am

   Hello, I found your blog on the web and was struck by some odd coincidences. My name is Adam Maltby, I am a Blackhawk Pilot in the US Army, currently in Afghanistan. Of the 500,000 soldiers in the Army, there are only 5 Maltbys. Three of us are pilots and not obviously related to each other. My 1 yr old son’s name is David Maltby. Maltby is not a very common name here, thought you may be interested.

   Reply
2. Carol Hill May 9, 2013 / 9:31 pm

   Does any one have any info about the work that had to be done to the aircraft to make them ready to deploy the “bouncing bombs”? My dad, Frank Eric Mills was involved in that work.

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   • RACHEL TAYLOR September 22, 2022 / 6:19 pm

     Spotlights were fitted to the aircraft.The bomb bay doors were removed.A mechanism was also fitted to allow the bomb to spin before dropping.The top turret gun was removed to reduce weight.

     Reply
3. Sandra Cardwell October 4, 2013 / 5:18 pm

   My uncle Jack Barnes was a technician with the 617. Small thing I know, but he was very proud to have had the honour of mending Guy Gibsons watch……. I have copies of a photographs he took whilst with the squadron. Some ground crew, some air crew and odd two or three of persons who may be known to people out there. Would be happy to forward them to you.

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   • Stephanie Lawton March 29, 2018 / 9:12 am

     Hi my name is Stephanie Lawton, I work as an unpaid volunteer Exhibition Officer at the Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle, Cumbria (Registered Charity) I am in the process of putting a 75th Anniversary display of the Dambusters Raid together. I would be very interested in the images you talk about. Would it be possible for me to use them, with your permission. I would acknowledge copyright etc.
     Stephanie

     Reply
     • Sandra Cardwell March 29, 2018 / 10:46 pm

       Unfortunately, due to a dead computer I am having difficulty locating the photographs. I will go through my photo CDs and get back in touch if found. Wishing you success in this venture.
       Sandra Cardwell
     • Christy thompson September 29, 2023 / 9:13 am

       Is it possible if anyone can send me something regarding my great grandad. George Newby (1905-1987). He survived Lancaster and was based in two of the three bases. He was leading aircraftman, RAF 54/55, base 1943-1945.

       My email is christyt16@sky.com
   • John Barnes May 11, 2020 / 3:43 pm

     My father John Barnes who was born in Walker 4/4/1912 He was raised in the Pottery Bank area. He was part of the ground crew in 617 squadron and I would love to see any photos of the era.
     Thank you

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     • Sandra Cardwell May 11, 2020 / 6:43 pm

       I sent the photos to this group so they should have them archived somewhere.
     • charlesfoster May 11, 2020 / 7:41 pm

       Hi Sandra — I can’t recall you sending any photos to me. In December 2018, you said your computer was dead and that you would send them when it was fixed. I haven’t heard from you since. Best wishes Charles
     • Sandra Cardwell May 12, 2020 / 1:29 pm

       Jack Barnes, my Uncle who was ground crew technician Unfortunately, the other photos were without description but from his personal collection.

       I

       Sent from Mail for Windows 10
     • Sandra Cardwell May 12, 2020 / 1:43 pm

       Hi Charles, I sent them as a reply but don’t think they appeared. How do I get them to you as the web site doesn’t give instructions.
     • charlesfoster May 12, 2020 / 1:51 pm

       Hi Sandra — you need to send them to me as attachments to an email, and I will post them on the blog. Use the email address I sent you, or send them to this one:

       charlesjfoster@gmail.com

       If there are a lot of pictures you may need to send them in batches.
       Best wishes — Charles
     • DAVID BELL August 27, 2020 / 7:13 pm

       I’m a Newcastle lad myself. After years of interest in The Damnbusters I’m only just realising how many of crew had North East England connections. As if I could be any more proud of these awesome young men.
4. gary thomas April 11, 2015 / 1:07 am

   I have photo of trevor ropers name on local cenotaph in caergwrle flintshire north Wales.his family at the time apparently lived in PLAS TEG…Google it.fascinating as he was born on IOW Shanklin.

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   • Joseph Harold Pilkington January 7, 2017 / 7:22 pm

     Thanks Gary I live in prestatyn I will definitely have a ride across and view the war memorial.
     Did you know that Guy Gibson’s fight enginer John Pulford is buried in Hull .

     Reply
5. Maggie January 21, 2017 / 5:25 pm

   When I was in Half Moon Bay harbour America ,some years ago I was talking to an Australian he told me his mother was a pilot taking aircraft to where ever they were needed during the wwii His best friend wanted to learn to fly and his mother taught him .He later became a Dambuster surviving the raid indeed the war

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6. David Russell August 12, 2017 / 4:28 pm

   Just followed up Flt Sgt Charles Walpole Roberts Navigator on AJ- A Found his name on the War Memorial in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin North Repps north Norfolk. Have is birth certificate born 19January 1921, Anyone like a pic of the inscription of this.

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   • Joseph Harold Pilkington August 20, 2017 / 10:05 am

     I would very much like to see the inscription on the war memorial of Flt Sgt Robert’s .

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7. charlesfoster August 13, 2017 / 8:33 am

   Thank you for this information. I would very much like to see Roberts’s birth certificate. I will email you separately. CF

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8. Sally mail August 23, 2017 / 11:30 am

   David Maltby was my mothers first cousin. So pleased to have come across this blog so I can find out more information about the dambusters.

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9. valerie May 7, 2018 / 6:02 pm

   Hi everyone..this is a shot in the dark, but my uncle told my husband some stories about being part of the ground crew for 617, including stories about meeting Guy Gibson.
   My uncle passed away some year ago now, so I’ve lost the opportunity to hear his stories. His name was Edward Senior from London.
   I’ve anyone has any pictures, documents, listing of ground crew, or know where I might be able to find such information, I’d be eternally grateful. I’m trying to put together a gift for his daughter about her dad.

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   • Frank Kelsall September 26, 2020 / 2:42 pm

     Hi did you get any replies? My friends dad thinks her dad Gilbert Marsh might have been on Gibson`s ground crew
     Frank
     frank@kelsall.net

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     • Valerie Pauline Higgins October 1, 2020 / 4:56 pm

       Hi Frank, thanks for your post.
       I didn’t get any others responses to my post back in May.
       If your friend could ask her dad about my Uncle Ted (Edwards Senior), whether he remembers his name etc, I’d really appreciate it.
       My husband and I recently went to RAF Cranwell and International Bomber Command Centre, met some lovely people who are trying to help me further. We wanted to go to Scampton, but it was fully booked during our visit, so maybe another time.
       Look forward to hearing from you.
       Valerie
10. Shaun Sheridan May 16, 2018 / 7:25 am

    To everyone who took part THANK YOU.

    Reply
11. Raymond Ducker May 23, 2019 / 1:17 pm

    My wifes patents were at Scampto with 617 squadren her dad was a medic and her mum was a waaf cook we cannot find any record or pictures of them their names were miss F Spir and A.R. Upham who later got wed

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12. Angela August 5, 2019 / 9:53 pm

    My grandfather was James Clay DFC. Amazing man. Miss him to this day.

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    • Shaun Sheridan August 6, 2019 / 9:16 am

      Hi Angela. My name is Shaun Sheridan and I live in NSW Australia. Thank you for keeping the memory of those young heroes alive. Most of my family fought in the war in all theatres including Al Alamein, The Battle of North Cape and so on. I’ve raised my children to remember that we owe our today’s to them. Again thank you so much for your commitment to their memory. As a young boy they were my heroes.
      Best Wishes
      Shaun Sheridan

      Reply
13. Dr Richard L Peacocke September 10, 2019 / 1:17 pm

    Hi,

    Thank you for your work. I saw this typo and thought I should let you know:-

    Sgt R E Grayston
    Flight engineer
    Survived Dams Raid
    Born 13 October 1918, Dunsfold, Surrey
    Died 15 April 1910, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire – obviously should be 2010!

    Best wishes,

    Richard

    Reply
    • charlesfoster September 10, 2019 / 1:24 pm

      Thanks, Richard, now fixed. CF

      Reply
14. Simon Fysh September 24, 2019 / 7:58 am

    I have just read Max Hastings new book called Chastise
    It is a fascinating read from a great writer and objective historian. He pulls no punches when describing the heroic young boys ,and they were mostly young boys who gave their lives on what was a unique raid fraught with utmost peril

    Reply
15. scott December 4, 2020 / 4:03 pm

    2nd Lt. Lawrenson Navigater

    Reply
    • charlesfoster December 4, 2020 / 4:25 pm

      Scott: Not sure who you are referring to here. There was no one called Lawrenson on the Dams Raid — Charles Foster

      Reply
16. Susan Timms December 5, 2020 / 8:12 pm

    Have just been watching the Dan Snow Dambusters programme on Ch5. wonderful. All those young chaps going off on that perilous mission, so, so emotional thinking about it, how brave they were. Having seen the film so many times it’s almost as if we know them all, what fascinating backgrounds they had. I wonder why Joe McCarthy was not featured in the film as he is mentioned many times in the Dan Snow prog.
    They will never be forgotten, it was just such an incredible feat. Such a shame the last survivor Johnnie Johnson has never been awarded a knighthood despite many efforts to get him honoured, a travesty!

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17. Dennis Degler February 4, 2021 / 2:22 pm

    An old friend speaks of her ex husband (deceased) Jack Moore who says his first wife was Guy Gibson’s secretary and that Guy paid for their wedding. He also said he was a rear gunner in a Dambusters raid. I cannot find his name in these lists. Can anyone shed any light on Jack Moore’s part in this?

    Reply
18. Norman Gray February 21, 2021 / 5:35 am

    I was given a medal for D Morrison a cyclist in 1939. It was a Donald Morrison and one of the responses said he was part of the Dambusters, but I cannot see his name. I’m trying to verifythis claim.

    Reply
    • charlesfoster February 21, 2021 / 1:02 pm

      Norman — there was no one called Morrison in the 133 aircrew who took part in the Dams Raid. Also, I can find no trace of anyone called Morrison in the aircrew during the rest of the war. CF

      Reply
      • Norman Gray February 21, 2021 / 9:18 pm

        Thankyou Charles. I couldn’t find it in list either. But the person who made the post, seemed to believe he was in there. Would be interesting history. Thanks again.
19. David mailer April 26, 2021 / 3:41 am

    I was advised by my late mother we had relation in the dam buster squadron, if anybody can confirm I would be most greatfull..I understand they were from Dundee …………David C J Mailer……….

    Reply
    • charlesfoster April 26, 2021 / 11:21 am

      David Mailer: I can’t find anyone called Mailer in the list of aircrew in 617 Squadron at any time between April 1943 and May 1945. You can get your relatives’s service record from the RAF for a fee of £25. CF

      Reply
      • David mailer April 26, 2021 / 7:53 pm

        Charles,

        hi many many thanks for replying to my request..

        my grandmother, my fathers mother maiden surname is Davidson.

        can you please see if this is the name of the person my mother is refereeing to.

        I understand he came from Dundee, Scotland..

        regards David C J Mailer
      • charlesfoster April 26, 2021 / 10:54 pm

        It would have been helpful if you had told me the surname you were looking for. There was a Canadian bomb aimer called Flg Off N J Davidson who joined the squadron in late 1943, and was killed in January 1944. Could it have been him?
20. Ralph Marr July 7, 2021 / 3:48 pm

    Hello Everyone and I came to this site by chance, which seems like a thoroughly researched site. This is a shot in the dark but maybe you can help me. I’m currently looking for a book I read as a child that I can’t remember the name of. It was about Canada and World War 2 and it and it highlighted the contribution of various Canadian units during World War 2. One of them was Operation Chastise as there was a Canadian squadron involved in the operation. If anyone has any insights or memory of this book I would really appreciate your help. The book is at least 30 years old and it had a lot of real life pictures with captions and there some articles written inside as well.

    Reply
    • charlesfoster July 12, 2021 / 1:29 pm

      Ralph — I hope one of our Canadian readers may be able to help. I think that there have been various books about the Canadian role in WW2. However, there was no specific Canadian squadron involved in Operations Chastise, although there were 31 Canadians amongst the 133 men who took part in the raid. One book you might find interesting is Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany by Ted Barris, published in 2018.

      Reply
    • Ian mee June 29, 2023 / 7:17 pm

      Hello, I was trying to find out about the 2 crews that were ill and got left out of the dambuster raids, my great uncle Charles (chuck) Hooley before he died did say he’s was on a ill crew, I didn’t understand at the time but few years on and trying to find him, have gone with no success, could you help please, many thanks ian.

      Reply
21. Barry Leddicoat November 25, 2021 / 4:38 am

    Hi My Dad, Bill Leddicoat, from Newcastle, often mentioned a mate, Joe Dacey, who he believed was involved in the operation. Does anyone remember Joe? Cheers Barry Leddicoat. Australia 2021

    Reply
    • charlesfoster November 25, 2021 / 9:52 am

      Barry — there wasn’t anyone by the name of Dacey in the 133 men who took part in the Dams Raid. However, a J. Dacey joined the squadron in September 1943 as a wireless operator/air gunner and flew on a number of operations thereafter. He appears to have survived the war. CF

      Reply
    • Stuart Ward September 10, 2022 / 2:26 pm

      Hi Barry,
      Anyone who met him will remember him! Joe was my great uncle, unfortunately he died in 2014.
      After the war he moved to Brisbane as he was so impressed with it, having been stationed there towards the end of the war.
      As a kid we used to live near Derwent dam in the Peak District, so he paid a visit there when he was visiting. He talked about training of 617 at the dam, but wasn’t on the raid.
      Not sure if he was involved in the training as he was moved to instructing after completing his allotted number of missions.

      Reply
22. Mrs Marcroft January 24, 2022 / 5:22 pm

    My father was Sgt gordon cooke 617 was with Sgt jopplin he was radio operator. Has anyone any photos please. They were at scampton.

    Reply
    • charlesfoster January 25, 2022 / 9:34 pm

      Hello Mrs Marcroft
      I posted a picture of your father and the rest of the Joplin crew in March 2020. See this page: https://dambustersblog.com/2020/03/05/flg-off-basil-fish/
      If you have any more information about your father’s career, then please get back in touch. Thanks — Charles Foster
      My email address is charlesjfoster@gmail.com

      Reply
23. Mick Elliss March 7, 2022 / 3:40 am

    Hello, my old boss was a dambuster, I believe he was in Squadron 617 from my memory of what he used to tell me, his name was Donald A. Day, he was a bomb aimer and I have seen old pictures of him in the squad…I do not see his name mentioned here which is surprising and wondered if anyone might have any memories/knowledge of him, or photo’s of him/with him in it? Thanks a lot. My email address is Mike.elliss@yahoo.com

    Reply
    • charlesfoster March 7, 2022 / 9:38 am

      Mick: Flt Sgt D A Day joined 617 Squadron on 1 September 1944 from 61 Squadron, 16 month after the Dams Raid. He flew on some 16 operations in the crew piloted by Flg Off Phil Martin before being posted out on 16 April 1945. That’s why his name doesn’t appear in the list above, which consists of the 133 men who flew on the raid itself. — CF

      Reply
      • Mick Elliss March 8, 2022 / 1:04 am

        Thanks a lot, very much appreciate the information and prompt reply. I’ve an old newspaper article with him in it and a pic of his old squad if you wanted to see it?
24. Robert Brann June 20, 2022 / 11:11 am

    Another shot in the dark, my neighbour in my childhood told my family of being in the Dambusters raid, cannot find his name, he was not one to brag about his war career, his name was John Grill, he was an intelligent man, and a gentleman, does anybody know of him ? Please help me.

    Reply
    • charlesfoster June 20, 2022 / 11:15 am

      There was no one of that name in 617 Squadron aircrew at any time between March 1943 and May 1945. It is possible that he was in ground crew, but there is no definitive list of the men and women involved in these.

      Reply
25. Coralee Stokes August 16, 2022 / 11:36 am

    I have been told by a few family members my father Ronald James Stokes was a radio operator on one of the plans he was from Western Australia but I can not find any information to confirm where can I get information to if what I have been told is accurate
    Coralee Stokes

    Reply
    • charlesfoster August 17, 2022 / 10:29 am

      Dear Coralee
      There was no one with the surname Stokes in the aircrew of 617 Squadron at any time between April 1943 and the end of the war. You should be able to get access to your father’s file from the National Archives of Australia, which will confirm where he served.
      Best wishes — Charles

      Reply
26. Paul walker October 25, 2022 / 9:19 pm

    Flight sergeant George f walker was in 617 done a few missions he told me born Dublin 1912

    Reply
    • charlesfoster October 25, 2022 / 11:28 pm

      The only man on the Dams Raid called Walker was Daniel Revie Walker. There were other men called Walker serving in 617 Squadron later in the war, but none with the forenames George F. CF

      Reply
27. Roy Dicker December 8, 2022 / 2:22 pm

    My neighbour was sq l Bill Gordon. Can anyone tell me what was his connection with 617?

    Reply
    • charlesfoster December 8, 2022 / 2:34 pm

      A main by the name of Sqn Ldr W H Gordon joined 617 Squadron as a pilot in February 1945 and served until the end of the wr. Is this your man? — CF

      Reply
      • Roy Dicker December 8, 2022 / 3:16 pm

        Yes, that’s the man. Thanks.
28. Harvey Holman December 15, 2022 / 11:07 am

    Hi Charles, I’ve enjoyed reading this site very much. Many years ago I was working at Melbourne University in Australia. My boss there was an ex RAF pilot whom I believe was at one time during WW2 a member of 617.
    His name was LEN (Leonard) NEALE. He was English but lived here in Australia. Can you find any references for his involvement in 617?
    Cheers
    Harvy.

    Reply
    • charlesfoster December 15, 2022 / 11:17 am

      The only man by the name of Neale that I can find in the period between April 1943 and May 1945 was Sgt Louis Neale, an air gunner in Robert Horsley’s crew. He is in a picture on this page: https://dambustersblog.com/2019/06/26/first-hand-account-of-617-squadrons-attack-on-the-lutzow/
      However, here he is listed as Belgian.

      Reply
29. Angelica Bull December 15, 2022 / 3:01 pm

    Hello
    My fathers friend Alan Handford-Rice was apparently
    part of the Dambusters, can you confirm this? We are having trouble finding him.
    Many thanks
    Angelica Bull

    Reply
    • charlesfoster December 15, 2022 / 5:43 pm

      Angelica
      No man with the surname of Handford-Rice served in 617 Squadron aircrew between March 1943 and May 1945. — CF

      Reply
30. Barry wilson May 6, 2023 / 7:19 pm

    My uncle Thomas Anderson was a flight lieutenant with the dambusrers I have photos of him and Guy Gibson but I cannot find him in any of the dambusrers pilots he might have served in the 617 or the 655 squadron can any body help

    Reply
    • charlesfoster May 6, 2023 / 8:46 pm

      Barry: If you can provide more details about your uncle’s service in wartime then I will see if I can get more information. He does not appear have served in 617 Squadron aircrew at any point between March 1943 and the end of the war. Anderson is a common surname, so if you have his full name and service number this will help. Charles Foster

      Reply
      • W B Wilslon May 7, 2023 / 5:19 pm

        I also have a photo of him getting the dfc from the king
31. Kenneth Empson May 16, 2023 / 11:10 am

    Sgt Eric Empson, flight engineer – was he in any way involved as a crew member, or reserve crew member?

    Reply
32. Neal Ward July 30, 2023 / 5:19 pm

    I have a friend who lived in Maidenhead in the 1970’s A neighbour of his was Joseph Henry Macaulay Brown, whom he understood was associated with the Dambusters, but its is not clear if he actually flew with them. He was usually known as Mac Brown. Any help in confirming this would be appreciated

    Reply
    • charlesfoster July 30, 2023 / 8:26 pm

      Neal: No one of this name served in 617 Squadron aircrew between March 1963 and May 1945. I suggest that you post an enquiry on http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/ with his full name asking if anyone can track him down. — Charles Foster

      Reply
      • Neal Ward July 30, 2023 / 9:36 pm

        Thanks. I will follow this up
33. Tony Dye October 19, 2023 / 1:29 am

    Is there any information on the team who worked with Barnes Wallis on the design and construction that made this operation possible ? I have always been led to believe that my uncle, Andrew Dye, was on that team(s). Somewhat coincidentally, my father, Arthur Dye, joined the war in late 1944 and was a rear-gunner in a Lancaster. Thanks.

    Reply
34. Sherrill Allen November 3, 2023 / 1:17 am

    We gace recently found out that My Uncle was a Reconnaissance Pilot for the Dambuster raids. Unfortunately the Reconnaissance Pilots seem to be forgotten about. But without them the raid probably would not have happened. His name was William Cusack. He came from Plymouth Devon.

    Reply
35. Emma OBrien March 26, 2024 / 9:15 am

    My grandma Jean Bates (née Morrison) and her sister Margaret would talk of the Dambusters crew coming to stay in their living room during the war in Lincoln. This was after a night out and Margaret apparently climbed down the drainpipe to meet the RAF crew in Lincoln! This was one of a few war stories we would find out over the years.

    Reply
36. Amy greenwood May 11, 2024 / 2:47 pm

    hi I’m looking for details on my grandad he was part of the 617 ground crew Donald Saunders I can’t seem to find anything on him. I would love to know more or see pictures please

    Reply

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