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Operation: Chastise
Date: 16/17th May 1943 (Sunday/Monday)
Unit: No. 617 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: ED934
Code: AJ-K
Base: RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire
Location: Waddenzee West of Harlingen
Pilot: P/O. Vernon William Byers J/17474 RCAF Age 32. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Alastair James Taylor 575430 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
Nav: P/O. James Herbert Warner 128619 RAFVR Age ? Killed
Air/Bmr: Sgt. Arthur Neville Whitaker 144777 RAF Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Wilkinson 1025280 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Charles McAllister Jarvie 1058757 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James McDowell R/101749 RCAF Age ? Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
On 16/17th of May 1943 Lancaster III ED 934 AJ-K “King” left Scampton at 21.30 hours as part of Operation Chastise to bomb the Sorpe Dam.
ED 934 came to 617 Squadron on the 3rd of May with only 13 hours of flying time.
Sgt. Charles McAllister Jarvie first on left during training we understand - can anyone assist in recognising the others?
Above left: Charles Jarvie with his mother Nellie and sister Helen prior to joining up. Right: Charles on right with friend - anyone able to assist in identification?
In a letter home, written on May the 5th, just eleven days before his last, final operation, and quite likely to be the last time that he saw his mother, Alastair describes flying over the family home in Scotland!
℅. Sgts.Mess
R.A.F.Scampton, Lincs.
5th May 1943
"My dear mother,
Well I hope we didn’t scare you too much last Monday. I saw you and Aunt Julia just in front of the house but I could not pick dad out anywhere, so thought he would probably be at a pig sale.
I don’t know when my next leave is but we are getting a 48 hour next week and might go down to Bushey.All depends on the financial position which at the moment is pretty hopeless.
Vernon is getting a commission and Jimmy will get one later. I am going to hang on a bit before I try.
I had a letter from Phyllis who has certainly been stepping out in Inverness.
Well that’s all for the present
Cheerio
Alastair"
Presumably 'Vernon' and 'Jimmy' mentioned in this letter are Vernon Byers, the pilot and Jimmy Warner the Navigator. Phyllis was Alastair’s sister stationed at RAF Kinloss
Above: Sgt. Alastair James Taylor
Memorial to the 'Dam Buster' at Woodhall Spa
Burial details:P/O. Vernon William Byers. Runnymede Memorial Panel 175. Son of Frank and Ruby J. Byers of Codette, Saskatchewan, Canada.Sgt. F/O. Alastair James Taylor. Runnymede Memorial Panel 166. Also on the Roll of Honour for Old Haltonians Apprentices. Further information: Son of Stephen and Sarah Ann Taylor and elder brother of Charles Taylor (who served in 100, 625 and 576 Squadrons during the war) of Alves, Morayshire, Scotland. Sergeant Taylor joined the RAF as an apprentice at RAF Halton on 17.1.1939. 9 FTS - 5.10.1940 - 4STT - 14.8.1942 - Awarded Flight Engineers badge - 21.10.1942 - No 1654 Conversion Unit, Wigsley - 01.01.1943 - 02.02.1943. Joined 467 Squadron Bottesford on 03.02.1943. Flew as Flight Engineer with P/O. Byers and his crew before being posted to 617 Squadron, Scampton on 28.3.1943. Death presumed on 16th May 1943
P/O. James Herbert Warner. Runnymede Memorial Panel 130. No further details as yet.
Sgt. Arthur Neville Whitaker. Runnymede Memorial Panel 134. No further details as yet.
Sgt. John Wilkinson. Runnymede Memorial Panel 169. Son of Thomas Wilfred and Ethel of Antrobus, Cheshire, England.
Sgt. Charles McAllister Jarvie. Runnymede Memorial Panel 154. Further information: Son of Charles and Nellie (nee Clark) Jarvie and younger much loved only brother of Helen Jarvie of Glasgow, Scotland. Joined the RAF in 1940. Trained at Padgate - 11.07.1940. No 6 RC - 13.08.1940 - No 1 E and WS - 30.08.1940 - Ullsworth - 14.10.40 - Ouston - 15.05.1941 - Acklington - 29.05.1941 - No 14 ITW - 30.07.1942 - No 4 AGS - 06.09.1942 - No 49 CU - 31.10.1942 - No 1661 C.U. - 467 Squadron - 09.11.1942. Sergeant Jarvie flew with the Vine crew till the 9th March 1943 joining the Byers crew on approximately the 10th March 1943. He and the rest of the crew were posted to 617 Squadron on 28.03.1943
Fl/Sgt. James McDowell. Harlington General Cemetery, Netherlands Plot E.Row 4. Grave 11. No further information, but from Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada.
Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. With special thanks to the following relatives: Lorna Baines and the family of Sergeant Jarvie, Alastair Taylor and the family of Sergeant Taylor, Also thanks to History-Dambuster.Org.UK
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 29 October 2014, 22:46