617 Squadron 16/17th May 1943

Linda · Air Commodore

617 Squadron 16/17th May 1943

MikeH · Air Vice Marshall

Hi Linda,

You probably have seen this report from the CWGC

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:7gBGmQS1T60J:www.cwgc.org/admin/files/The%2520Dams%2520Raid.pdf+lancaster+ED934&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

Mike.

William Heron · Group Captain

Hi Linda,

Short reply but all I have from the Lancaster book.

ED934 - G tested April 29th 1943 - Came to 617 Sqdn. 3rd of May 1943 and as you already know was lost 17th May 1943. This aircraft only had 13 hrs. of flying time.

Sorry I didn't have more for you.

Linda · Air Commodore

Thanks Bill & mMke-It is all these little snippets that add something to the overall picture.

Date: Jul 17, 2009

Hi Linda,
Can't add much except;

Crossing the Dutch coast Byers Lanc was hit by anti-aircraft fire from flak batteries on Texel, while flying at 300 feet, and crashed into the Waddensea west of Harlingen, where Flt/Sgt McDowell is buried in the General Cemetery. His body was recovered on 22 June 1943, his crew mates have no known graves.

Kiwi.

Linda · Air Commodore

Thanks Kiwi for the extra info!

Don13 · Leading Aircraftsman

Linda; You might want to try and locate a copy of the book "Dambuster Crash Sites" by Chris Ward.
It is published by Pen and Sword Aviation ( a sub-branch of Pen and Sword Books Ltd.) and since it was only printed in 2007, it should be still available, and is a veritable gold mine of info about the fate of the aircraft and crews.
As an aside, my uncle (P/O Floyd Wile) was the navigator in AJ-B ED864.

Linda · Air Commodore

Hi Don-
Many thanks for that-Amazon will probably have a copy that i can send off for,which i will do!

Have you a photo of your uncle that can be added to the 617 squadron gallery?

Don13 · Leading Aircraftsman

Hi Linda;

Sorry to take so long to get back to you, but my computer is acting up, and I'm afraid it will have to go in for repairs before I can do anything relatively useful with it.

I do have a photo of Floyd, and I would be more than happy to scan it for you and send it on for inclusion on the 617 Site. (What address should I send it to)?
As you are no doubt aware - as you did the research for it - a group photo of 5 of AJ-B's crew is posted on F/O Don Hopkinson's tribute site at :

http://www.bombercrew.com/617/hopkinson.htm

I have to assume they were training on Wellingtons at the time the photo was taken, as all are wearing name tags, and all appear to be NCO's.

Don

Linda · Air Commodore

Hi Don,
I have sent away for the book but owing to the postal strike,it will be pot luck when I get it!!

Yes,I know there is a photo of Flyod on Hopkinson's but i wondered if you had an individual uniformed one?
If you can send it to me (cathogs2000@yahoo.co.uk) with any personal info on him,usual stuff,parents,siblings,engaged/married,peacetime job,hobbies etc.

Then he can go up with his friends on the Gallery.
There is no rush and my computer has been away being "mended" so i have lots to catch up on!Cheers