One of the members of the crew of AJ-A on the Dams Raid, wireless operator Lawrence Nichols, pictured here during training with the rest of the participants on his wireless course. The picture was probably taken in Blackpool in 1941. Nichols is sitting on the ground in the centre of the front row. [Pic: © Ray Hepner collection.]
The appeal for funds for a new memorial plaque on the Dutch coast, near where Sqn Ldr Melvin Young’s Lancaster, AJ-A, was shot down on the night of the Dams Raid has been very successful, and has so far raised about 80% of the €3500 needed.
The organisers, the 617 Squadron Netherlands Aircrew Memorial Foundation is now appealing to anyone who has not yet supported the campaign to do so as soon as possible so that work can begin on designing and producing the plaque and its associated works.
The Foundation was established to commemorate all members of 617 Squadron who lost their lives in the war. As part of this work, the Foundation will unveil a memorial plaque to the crew of AJ-A on the seafront at Castricum-aan-Zee in late May 2018, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the retrieval of their bodies from the sea and their burial in the nearby Bergen cemetery. Members of the families of the crew of AJ-A have already said that they hope to be present for this occasion.
If you haven’t yet made a donation to the Foundation, then this is your chance to do so! Please use the PayPal link below. (Any credit card can be used – you don’t need to have a PayPal account in order to make a payment.) Your donation will be gratefully received and will be acknowledged at the unveiling ceremony.
Dambusters Blog 
Donation done .
Dear Charles it is with real regret that I cannot contribute to the AJ-A memorial fund, I just haven’t got the funds to do so. I do hope you will meet your target – I’m sure you will get the support you need through the generosity of others . I enjoy receiving your blogs and thank you for them.Yours sincerely Veronica Mailer-Dall
Hello, You have an interesting site. Keep up the good work. I’m reasonably certain the photo of a beached bomber that you identify as the remains of A Apple is, in fact a Halifax. Halifax aircraft had a line of ports running down the fuselage (as does the aircraft in the photo). Lancasters had no ports. Also, the smashed front end appears to be the remains of a Halifax cockpit, not a Lancaster.
Cheers,
John
Charles I expect you knew Jack Leggo was knighted after returning, from the Air Force. It was for his work as a civilian.
Denise Dawson. Née Hay.