19 Dambuster crew photos and death details of 132/133

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by spidge, Nov 2, 2015.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    ALL SLIDES NOW ADDED

    I have put together a photo of all 19 crews on the Dambusters Raid which shows the deaths on the raid (53), those who died later during the war (32) and those who have died post war (47) totalling 132 of 133. George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson (UK) of McCarthy crew is still living.

    Any comments or corrections would be most welcome.

    Number 1:

    Gibson Crew:

    Dambuster Crew 1 Gibson a.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  2. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 2

    Hopgood Crew.

    Dambuster Hopgood 1 Crew.jpg
     
  3. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 3

    Martin Crew

    Dambuster Martin Crew 2.jpg
     
  4. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 4

    Young Crew

    Apologies for the quality of the photos of Horsfall and Roberts.

    Dambuster Young Crew 2.jpg
     
  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 5

    Maltby Crew

    Dambuster Maltby Crew.jpg
     
  6. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 6

    Shannon Crew

    Dambuster Shannon Crew 1.jpg
     
  7. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 7

    Maudslay Crew

    Dambuster Maudslay Crew 1.jpg
     
  8. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 8

    Astell Crew

    Dambuster Astell Crew.jpg
     
  9. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Number 9 9 Dambuster Knight Crew.jpg

    Knight Crew

    THIS COMPLETES THE FIRST WAVE
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
    Gage and stolpi like this.
  10. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Any help would be appreciated on the date of death of these members of a few crews.

    Flight sergeant Frank Ernest Appleby (DFM)

    Although very thorough in my research, I have only been able to find September Qtr 1996 in Sussex. He was born in Eastbourne, Sussex.

    Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Rice (DFC) Only have month and year 00/11/1981 in Somerset.

    Flight Sergeant Ronald Batson (DFM) Only have month and year 00/11/2006

    England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 about Ronald Batson
    Name: Ronald Batson
    Birth Date: 5 Dec 1920
    Date of Registration: Nov 2006
    Age at Death: 86
    Registration District: Durham
    Inferred County: Durham
    Volume: -1
    Page: -1
    Register Number: CD2C
    District and Subdistrict: 442/1C
    Entry number: 063

    If anyone can assist I would be most appreciative.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  11. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Have you tried asking here:

    http://www.applebyresearch.org/
     
  12. SuzQ

    SuzQ Member

    Hi Geoff

    I don't know if this helps? but in the book, which I bought when I visited the Dambuster Museum - G Rice D.F.C. is listed as - crew killed in action 20 December 1943

    You also mention Ronald Batson, which you have found details for.....at the back of the book there is a lovely photo of a couple of veterans and one is a Ron Barton, so i'm just wondering if this is pure coincidence or could it be the same person with a misspelling?

    In the meantime I'll carry on reading and see if I can find anything else out for you

    Suz
     
  13. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks Geoff,

    I did have a browse through there the night before last. Heavy going getting though it.

    I will give this post a few days then bite the bullet.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  14. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Suz,

    You are right with the Rice crew however Geoffrey Rice evaded for 6 months with the resistance and then captured and went to a PoW camp. He was released and returned to the UK on 10/05/1945.

    I believe Ron Batson would not talk about his War years nor would he speak to any of his former crew

    Thanks for the info.

    Cheers

    Geoff.
     
  15. SuzQ

    SuzQ Member

    Ah...'the pennies finally dropped Geoff' and I can see what you mean now, ie. the list which I found mentioning 'crew killed in action', meant just that and not his date of death.........sorry.

    And there was me thinking that just for once I was able to help and give a least a little something back for all the help everyone has given me.

    Out of interest - the Ron Baston and Ron Barton - are these two separate guys then? because the picture in this book was taken in recent years at a commemoration ceremony which he would have attended with fellow veterans?

    Suz
     
  16. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Suz,

    The Ron is "Batson" not Baston so probably not just a single letter error however I never say never!!

    I do not know much about him however from what another researcher of the Dambusters and 617sq told me, was he did not want to revisit any part of his life during that time nor would he speak with any of his former crew.

    With respect to Geoffrey Rice, his aircraft was hit by Flak over Belgium at 14,000 feet and disintegrated however he was thrown clear and suffered only a broken wrist. The other six crew members were killed and are buried at Gosselies Communal Cemetery in Belgium.

    Would be great to know where those who survived the war are all buried (I have had help with a few in the UK) but finding out where they were buried/cremated has been a most difficult task.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  17. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    SECOND WAVE

    Number 10

    Barlow Crew.

    Dambuster Barlow Crew.jpg
     
  18. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    SECOND WAVE

    NUMBER 11

    Munro Crew

    Dambuster Munro Crew 2.jpg
     
  19. Down Ampney

    Down Ampney New Member

    Geoff,

    I just wanted to say what a fantastic project this is of yours.

    A few weeks ago, I had the great good fortune to attend a public talk given by George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson. He spoke so well, and was both funny and fluent. He had the few hundred of us in the audience captivated and at the end got a (very well-deserved) standing ovation.

    I even managed to get a snap of him, which if I have understood how to attach photos is duly attached.

    Thanks again for all the research,

    David
     

    Attached Files:

  20. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thank you David!

    Great photo of "Johnny", he has been a wonderful "Ambassador" for the Dambusters and the men of Bomber Command.

    I had wanted to do this for a while however the photos of "all crews" were not available.

    I have had some wonderful comments for presenting them in this context.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     

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