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OBITUARY

So nearly a ‘Dambuster’

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Article researched and written by Simon Muggleton © for Aircrew Remembered - June 2025

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With the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, a committee was formed to advise the King whether new decorations were needed for this new service. The King approved this proposal and decreed that the new decorations should be declared on his birthday, 3rd June 1918. The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was ordained to be granted to:

Non-Commissioned officers and Men for an act, or acts of valour, courage, or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy.

By the end of the First World War just 45 Distinguished Flying Medals plus one Bar had been awarded while during the Second World War 6,637 DFMs were awarded, with 60 first Bars and one with two Bars. A relatively scarce gallantry award, when compared with the fact that over 20,000 Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFC) were awarded to officers in the same war.

Warrant officer Eddie Leavesley served with the RAF during the Second World War as a wireless operator/air gunner, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1941 and again in 1943, thereby allowing him to wear that rare bar on the ribbon of his DFM. Born on 8 October 1919, Eddie lived at 14 Gamble Avenue, Windlehurst, Merseyside, with his parents Joseph and Ada (ne¥e Mather), and four brothers, Norman, (a gunner in the RA and who died in service on 9 February 1941), Clarence (a driver in the ASC and a PoW in Italy by March 1941), Harold (an aircraftsman in the RAF Regiment) and another younger brother whose name is unknown to the author. All five boys were educated at Rivington Road Boys School, Windlehurst, and all were members of the school orchestra, later becoming bandsmen in the Salvation Army.

Eddie was always interested in fualifying and eventually joined the RAF in May 1939. While still in the throes of his training, storm clouds were gathering in Europe, culminating with the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland by Germany, resulting in war being declared by Great Britain on Germany on 3 September 1939. Eddie Leavesley was still in the rank of air craftsman at the outbreak of war, but by November 1940 he had been promoted to the rank of sergeant and posted to No 50 Sfuadron of 5 Group, based at Lyndholme, in Yorkshire. He fualified as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, receiving his trade badge and brevet.

His first operation on 7 November 1940, flying in a Handley Page Hampden piloted by Sgt Ormonroyd, with other crew members, Sgt Massey and Sgt Roberts. This was to bomb the Krupps work in Essen followed by an attack on a power station at Mannheim, and was the first area bombing attack on a German industrial centre, undertaken by the RAF.

The area was covered in cloud during the attack and the captain of Eddie's aircraft decided to drop his four 500lbs of bombs on Flushing instead.

Eddie Leavesley went on to complete another 31 sorties (his first tour) with this sfuadron and they are as follows:

14th November 1940 - Hamburg

82 Aircraft were detailed to bomb Berlin and Hamburg, 10 were lost in the attack making it the heaviest night loss so far in the war. Eddie's Hampden aircraft P4408 had a failure with the ASI after only 15 minutes in the air and returned to base with the bomb load.

20th November 1940 - Duisburg

68 Aircraft on this raid with only one loss, P4408 was coned by searchlights, combined with heavy flak over the target. The bomb load (2x500lb 2x250lb and 1200lbs of incendiaries) was dropped at 9000ft with four bursts seen near some bridges and two large fires started by the incendiaries. Two wing bombs were 'hung up' and the aircraft returned for a second go at the target which was successful.

28th November 1940 - Ludwigshaven

77 aircraft with only 1 loss on this raid, with intense searchlights and flak over the target, 2x500lb and 1x250lb were released at 8000ft. I bomb hung up but aircraft returned safely.

20th December 1940 - Wesseling

125 Aircraft set out to bomb the oil refineries on the Rhine. Sgt Leavesley's aircraft dropped 2x500lb and 2x250lb bombs along with incendiaries from 8000ft.Very little flak and no aircraft lost.

28th December 1940 - Lorient

59 Hampdens set out to bomb various ports carrying 4x500lb released from 11000 feet. On the route out intense flak was encountered resulting in the loss of one aircraft.

1st January 1941 - Bremen

141 aircraft were tasked to bomb the Focke-Wulf aircraft factory using 4x500lb bombs in each aircraft, 11 civilians killed with 30 injured. No losses on the actual raid but four crashed in the UK due to bad weather.

4th January 1941 - Brest Harbour

53 Hampden aircraft attacked the German naval bases and battleships with indecisive results using 2x500lb and 2 x250lb bombs dropped from 11000 feet. No losses.

Sgt Leavesley fualifed for the 1939/45 Star on the 7th January.

12th January 1941 - Brest Harbour

A second similar attack was made on the battleships, this time with 4x500lb and 2x250lb bombs at 14000 feet. Intense flak was encountered on the raid by the 26 Hampden aircraft, with anti aircraft balloons being spotted by Sgt Leavesley, but no losses were sustained. Sgt Leavesley's aircraft suffered with violent vibrations on its return and landed at Boscombe Down safely.

4th February 1941 - Dusseldorf

30 Hampdens took off on the raid during full moon, 29 returned after dropping their bombs through heavy cloud and fog. Heavy concentration of flak.

7th February 1941 - Dunkirk

27 aircraft set out to bomb the docks from 1000 feet, with intense flak coming from Dunkirk and Ostende. Large fires were started across the docks by Sgt Leavesley's aircraft, and he machine gunned searchlight units from 2000 feet, extinguishing three of them.(This raid was mentioned in Sgt Ormonroyd's (pilot) recommendation for a DFM on 6.6.41

10th February 1941 - Hanover

46 Hampdens used out of the full complement of 222 aircraft on this raid on industrial targets. Four aircraft lost, but many large explosions and fires reported.

14th February 1941 - Mine-Laying in Gironde River

11 Hampdens detailed to drop mines from 600 feet, light flak encountered.

1st February 1941 - Mine-Laying Brest River

42 Hampdens dropped mines, with no losses, again from 600feet.

Sgt Leavesley's aircraft came under intense flak having been 'coned' in searchlights for over two minutes, luckily with only little damage, landing at Boscombe Down.

24th February 1941 - Brest

11 Hampdens used out of the full complement of 57 aircraft to bomb battleships in Brest Harbour. A shallow dive from 14,000 to 12,000 feet was made on the targets, intense searchlight and flak activity over the target.

26th February 1941 - Cologne

126 aircraft took part in this raid, dropping their bombs from 11,000feet, but only 10 large bombs and 90 incendiaries found the target. No loss of aircraft even through numerous searchlights and flak were seen.

1st March 1941- Cologne

131 aircraft took part in this raid 6 were lost over the target with a further 14 crashing on their return due to heavy fog over the airfields. This was a heavy raid on six commercial premises with 90 homes destroyed, 21 killed and 35 injured.

12th March 1941 - Berlin

72 aircraft took part bombing from 11,000 feet which was scattered but hitting 60 buildings with 11 killed and 24 injured. 3 aircraft were lost, and St Leavesley's Hampden was hit on the wing tips by flak which was intense.

14th March 1941 - Gelsenkirchen

101 aircraft took part in this raid on oil plants, but the target area was obscured by haze and fog, 9 were killed for the loss of 1 aircraft.

18th March 1941 - Kiel

99 aircraft were used to bomb the submarine bases with no losses, bombing from 14,000 feet with intense searchlight activity but light flak.

21st March 1941 - Mine-laying Lorient

The mines were laid close to the U Boat pens, but bad visibility caused poor bombing. 1 aircraft lost of the 12 Hampdens taking part.

23rd March 1941 - Kiel

31 Hampdens engaged on this raid none lost, scattered bombing 10 killed, 6 injured. Sgt Leavesley's aircraft started four fires which rapidly merged into one, being visible for 10 minutes after leaving the target area.

7th April 1941 - Kiel

A further attack on Kiel, this time by 229 aircraft the largest of the war so far, with four lost, many naval buildings were destroyed with gas and electricity being cut off, 88 killed with over 300 injured.

13th April 1941- Mine-Laying La Rochelle

17 Hampdens engaged in dropping mines from 600 feet light flak and tracer causing hits in starboard wing and rear gunners cockpit of Sgt LWellesley's aircraft.

15th March 1941 - Kiel

96 aircraft on this raid, with 19 Hampdens, one aircraft lost with only light flak, 5 killed and 13 injured.

5th May 1941 - Mannheim

25 bomb loads from the 141 aircraft on the raid hit the city, causing 19 small fires and the water main broken, with no effect on industrial production. 4 killed.

8th May 1941 - Hamburg

188 aircraft on this raid, 4 lost but results were the best so far in the war. 83 fires started resulting in 185 killed an just under 2000 bombed out of their homes.

9th May 1941 - Ludwigshaven

146 aircraft took part to bomb the chemical works, with one aircraft lost over the target. 64 civilians killed with a further 122 injured, and 3533 bombed out of their homes. An error in navigation by P/O Smith resulted in the target not being found by Sgt Leavesley's aircraft and the bomb load was brought back to base, a practice frowned upon by most commanding officers.

11th May 1941 - Bremen

81 aircraft attacked (I lost) the floating dock and harbour area, including the Focke-Wulf factory by chance,24 houses destroyed, 49 seriously damaged, with a further 1000 suffering minor damage. 8 people killed,31 injured.

15th May 1941 - Hannover

101 aircraft on this raid with 3 lost over the target, being the main post office and telephone exchange in this general area attack.

11th May 1941 - Duisburg

80 aircraft used in this attack on the main railway station and dock areas. 173 houses were damaged along with a wagon works, resulting in 14 people killed and 36 injured.

12th June 1941 - Soest

91 Hampden aircraft (with 2 lost), took part in this attack from 4000 feet on the marshalling yards, heavy flak encountered and some fighters seen at 6000 feet but no attacks made.

15th June 1941 - Hannover

101 aircraft took off on this raid with just one not returning. Many large fires seen, and heavy flak encountered. Problems with the radio on the return journey.

18th June 1941 - Bremen

100 aircraft took part in this raid, with 6 lost, low cloud hindered the attack from 800 feet.

With 34 sorties completed, mainly over Germany, Sergeant Leavesley had completed his 'first tour' (usually 30 trips) and was recommended by the commanding officer of RAF Lyndholme, G/C E.F. Waring on 26 June 1941, for a well-deserved Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).

This was 'recommended' by the Air Officer Commanding 5 Group, Air Vice Marshal Sir John Slessor, GCB, DSO, MC, DL, on the 30th June 1941.

The award was announced in The London Gazette of 22 August 1941:

Sergeant Leavesley has been one of the most consistently reliable and courageous wireless operators in the sfuadron. Throughout the winter months he was a regular member of the crew captained by Sergeant Ormonroyd DFM. This crew undertook all operations in a cheerful and courageous spirit regardless of weather conditions, or the strength of the defence at the target to be attacked.

Their attacks were always pressed home with the greatest courage and determination. The cheerful demeanour of Sergeant Leavesley, coupled with his skill as wireless operator undoubtedly contributed to a large extent to the successful completion of the many operations carried out by this crew.

It is considered that Sergeant Leavesley's service during the eight months he has served on the sfuadron is worthy of recognition.

On 3rd September 1941 the following telegram was sent by the Air Officer Commanding No 5 Group (AVM Sir John Slessor, GCB, DSO, MC, DL) to Sgt Leavesley who was now attached to No 25 Operational Training Unit at RAF Finningley:

'Heartiest Congratulations On Your Well Merited Award'

RAF Finningley was located four miles south east of Doncaster in South Yorkshire and originally designated as a base for 'pool sfuadrons' No 106 Sfuadron being in this 'pool'. The base was metamorphosed into No 25 Operational Training Unit (part of No 7 (Training)

Group) in early 1941, flying Hampden and Manchester aircraft. Early in 1942 it was passed to No 1 Group and several operations were undertaken with Bomber Command.

Having been awarded the DFM and completed his first 'tour' Sgt Leavesley, with his vast operational knowledge and skill, was sent on a wireless instructors' course, at RAF Finningley, graduating to become an instructor as a Flight Sergeant. After a year of training others, Sgt Leavesley was keen to rejoin an operational sfuadron and by June 1942 he had been posted to No 106 Sfuadron, at RAF Coningsby, flying the Avro Manchester from Syerston, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Sgt Eddie Leavesley would complete another 'tour' with this sfuadron, which was commanded at that time by W/C Guy Gibson.

25th/26th June 1942 - Bremen

Sgt Leavesley's first operation with his new sfuadron was on one of the Thousand Bomber Raids to Bremen. Flying Lancaster R5657 piloted by Pilot Officer RG Churcher, Sgt Leavesley is shown in the sfuadron ORB's as the Air Bomber, but his logbook shows Wireless Operator. On this raid 1067 aircraft took part with 48 of them being lost (5%) due mainly to the heavy and accurate flak encountered over the target. 572 civilian houses were destroyed,

(2378 bombed out) with 85 deaths and 497 injured.

29/30 June 1942 - Bremen

253 Aircraft took part on a raid to the Focke-Wulf factory, which suffered extensive damage. 11 aircraft were lost to the moderate to heavy flak over the target.

11/12 July 1942 - Submarine Works - Danzig

This was an experimental but successful raid with 44 Lancaster's low flying in daylight and bombing at dusk from 3000 feet, led by W/C Gibson. Only two aircraft were lost. S/L FH Robertson was the pilot of R5677, whilst Sgt Leavesley again changed roles on this sortie, acting as the rear gunner.

14/15 July 1942 - Leaflet Dropping - Amien

Only three other Lancasters took part in this 'Nickel Raid' with no losses, this was Eddies first trip with a new crew, - Flight Sergeant SE Jones (pilot,) Sgt AE Adamson (Flt Engineer), Sgt BG McNair (Navigator), Sgt Camplin (air Bomber)Sgt G Goodings (Air Bomber,) Sgt G Leonard (Mid Upper Gunner),Sgt A Cartwright (rear Gunner). They would fly together for the next sixteen trips, calling themselves, 'The Scruff Crew'

Above: Sgt Adamson - Sgt Leonard - F/Sgt McNair F/Sgt Jones Sgt Camplin F/Sgt Leavesley Sgt Cartwright

25th July 1942 - Duisberg

313 aircraft took part in this raid, opposition was not heavy but many enemy fighters were seen and 12 Lancasters were lost.

31July/1 August 1942 - Dusseldorf

630 aircraft caused much damage to the city bombing from 9000 feet, starting 954 fires, resulting with 279 people being killed and a further 12,000 bombed out of their homes. Only slight opposition was recorded but even so 29 aircraft were lost (4.6%). Sgt Levesleys pilot on this trip was Flt/Sgt SE Jones who recorded 'a very successful and enjoyable trip'!

11th August 1942 - Mainz

154 aircraft caused much damage to the city with 152 civilians killed. 6 aircraft were lost due to heavy opposition over Wiesbaden.

12th August 1942 - Mainz

This raid of 138 aircraft was led by W/C Gibson who bombed from 6000 feetwhilst the rest of the attack was made from 9000 to 14000 feet owing to 10/10ths cloud cover. Light flak accounted for only 5 aircraft lost, whilst 163 civilians were killed, with the railway station being damaged.

16th August 1942 - Dusseldorf

131 aircraft encountered very heavy flak on this operation, suffering 4 aircraft shot down. Not a successful raid, as no industrial production was lost with only 13 injuries to the German population.

18th August 1942 - Flensburg -Baltic Coast

This was the first operation undertaken by the newly formed Pathfinder Force who contributed 31 of the 118 aircraft on this raid. Heavy winds were encountered and the bomber force drifted north of the target scattering their bomb load on Sonderborg and Abenra, and up to 25 miles northward. Only 4 Danish civilians were injured.

24th August 1942 - Frankfurt

226 aircraft took part each dropping 9000lbs of bombs from 8000ft in this attack with a loss of 16 (7.1%). The flak was recorded as very intense and accurate.

Many bombs were dropped on open country as a result, with only 17 large fires in the city and a loss of 5 lives.

27th August 1942 - Kassel

306 aircraft took part in this attack on the Henschel aircraft factories where 3 of them were destroyed, with widespread damage, for a loss of 31 aircraft (10.1%). Heavy flak was encountered along with many night-fighters on this bright moonlit night. Sgt Levesley's Lancaster W4102 was 'coned' by searchlights and fired upon for over 45 minutes, got hopelessly lost and dumped their bomb load on an unidentified built up area.

1st September 1942 - Saarbruecken

231 aircraft led by the Pathfinders bombed Saarlouis which was 15 miles away from the intended target, killing 52 civilians. 4 aircraft were lost (1.7%) as there was only slight opposition.

2nd September 1942 - Karlsruhe

200 aircraft were sent to bomb the city and were successful, this being one of the few accurate raids, 8 aircraft were lost (4.0%) with 73 German civilians killed.

5th September 1942 - Bremen (Focke Wulf Factory)

251 aircraft on this raid, bombing from 12000 feet,12 aircraft were lost due to the intense and accurate flak over the target and along the return route. This was considered a very successful raid by Bomber Command. 124 killed with 470 injured in the city.

8th September 1942 - Frankfurt

249 aircraft took part but none were able to find the intended target and bombed Russelsheim instead, destroying the Opel Factory.

1st October 1942 - Wismar

This was an unsatisfactory trip and bombs were scattered over the city by the 78 Lancasters taking part. Night fighters were seen in the area but no attacks took place and only 2 Lancasters were lost.

13th October 1942 - Kiel

288 aircraft took off and 8 were lost(2.8%), decoy fires were started outside the city area and the German flak guns held their fire in order not to give away the target to the bombers. Even so, a large amount of damage was caused by the high-capacity blast bombs used by Bomber Command.41 killed and 101 injured. The sfuadron ORB's record that this was S/L CE Hill's first operation who was KIA on his second raid to Cologne just two days later.

22/23 October 1942 - Genoa

112 Lancasters of 5 Group and the Pathfinders led by W/C Guy Gibson were sent to recommence the campaign against Italy in conjunction with the 8th Army attack at El Alamein. Bombing was accurate with little opposition and much damage was caused, with no loss to the attacking force.

This was the 34th and final first 'tour' completed by their pilot Flt Sgt SE Jones, who did not fly with this same crew again. Acting as the second pilot on this trip was Flt Sgt Lewis Burpee, a Canadian from Ottawa who would become Eddie Leavesley's regular pilot and go on to be awarded the DFM, but sadly loose his life on the famous Dambuster raid in May 1943.

20th November 1942 - Milan

This mission was abandoned by the pilot Sgt G Price due to the artificial horizon not working.

22nd November 1942 - Stuttgart

This was the first mission that Flt Sgt Burpee was the pilot to his new crew, flying seven and three fuarter hours in all, part of the 222 aircraft sent to bomb the city. Large fires were seen, and 117 were reported killed with 120 injured.

8th December 1942 - Turin

133 aircraft of 5 Group along with the Pathfinders were detailed for this 9 hour mission,bombing was very accurate and Flt Sgt Burpee reported that a large burst of bombs from his aircraft were seen to fall directly on the aiming point. Just one Lancaster was lost.

9/10 December 1942 - Turin

A second mission the following night was not as successful due to the previous nights fires were still burning giving off a large cloud of smoke obscuring the target. Flt Sgt Burpee abandoned the mission two hours after take-off due to the generators becoming unserviceable.

20/21December 1942 - Duisberg

232 aircraft attacked from 11000 feet, with 12 aircraft lost (5.2%) many searchlights and moderate flak encountered over the target. Flt Sgt Burpee's Lancaster R5637 suffered splinter damage and the navigator Flt Sgt J Young was slightly wounded. Much damage was recorded to the city.

3/4 January 1943 - Essen

Starting the New Year,this was an Oboe marking experimental raid using 3 Pathfinder Mosquitoes and 19 Lancasters ( 3 lost) to accurately bomb the city centre.

8/9January 1943 - Duisberg

38 Lancasters set out on this mission but Flt/Sgt Burpee abandoned the trip after one and a half hours owing to engine failure.

11th January 1943 - Essen

72 Lancasters set out to bomb the city but the rear turret of Flt/Sgt Burpee's aircraft W4842 became unserviceable and the mission was abandoned.

13th January 1943 - Essen

Another unlucky trip for Flt /Sgt Burpee and his crew when the air bomber, Sgt J.E Bonson inadvertently jettisoned the entire bomb load off the English coast whilst testing the bomb doors. He would not return to this crew!

17/18 January 1943 - Berlin

This was the second night in succession that an attack was mounted on the capital, this time using 170 Lancasters and 17 Halifax aircraft with the Pathfinders. The same route was taken there and back as the night before and the German night fighters were ready for them. 19 Lancasters and 3 Halifax aircraft were lost (11.8%). Bombing fell mainly in the southern part of the city. The BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby flew with W/C Guy Gibson on this raid, and the daily newspapers recorded this event the following day. Photographs were taken also on their return of Flt Sgt Burpees crew standing by their aircraft and published in the Daily Sketch and Daily Express under the banner headline 'The Boys Who Bombed Berlin, Home From The 12000 Mile Trip.

This photograph shows Flt Sgt Leavesley holding two boxes containing homing pigeons (in the event of being shot down it was the wireless operators job to release them with a message). Alongside Eddie on his left is Sgt George Goodings (Bomb Aimer), to his right is Sgt Lewis Burpee (Pilot), Sgt Guy Pegler (Flight Engineer), Sgt Bill Long (M/U Gunner), Sgt Joe Bradey (Rear Gunner).

The photograph was taken by William 'Billy' Field who worked for the Sunday Times, but the image ended up being published in the Daily Express on Tuesday 19th January 1943. The original glass negatives are marked 'Property of Kemsley Newspapers', the wartime owners of the paper. Why they were published by another newspaper remains a mystery! This crew have simulated the 'just got back from an Op' look by wearing their flying boots and carrying various bits of kit, but have omitted wearing their Irvin fur lined flying jackets, or one piece suits which they would have worn on a cold January night to Berlin! This suggests the photo was taken in the afternoon of the 18th January after the crew had slept and eaten on their dawn return from Germany.

Because the photograph showed Burpee and three others of his 'Dambusting' crew (flying Lancaster AJ-S and hit by flak just two hours into the operation), it has often been annotated in various publications as all six of the aircrew taking part in the famous raid.

21st January 1943 - Essen

This raid of 79 Lancasters (4 lost) encountered 10/10ths cloud and the bombs were dropped blindly on the estimated target. Flt/Sgt Burpees Lancaster W4842 was subjected to an intense flak barrage and was struck in many places despite him taking evasive action. He eventually jettisoned the bomb load when a fire broke out in the bomb bay, and just managed to return home despite a shortage of fuel from the holed tanks.

23rd January 1943

80 Lancasters took part in this raid (2 lost), some bombs record dropping south of the city.

27/28 January 1943 - Dusseldorf

162 aircraft with 6 lost (3.7%) attacked from 18000 feet, each aircraft dropping 4000lbs of bombs. This was the first time that the Mosfuitos of the Pathfinder Force used Oboe (ground marking instead of parachute flares). An accurate raid destroying 456 houses, 10 factories,and the opera House!

30/31 January 1943 - Hamburg

148 aircraft, 5 lost (3.4%), using H2S (Radar Device) for the first time, causing 119 fires with 58 civilians killed and 164 injured.

11/12 February 1943 - Wilhelmshaven

177 aircraft on this raid with just 3 Lancasters lost(1.7%). This was a most successful raid using Blind Bombing H2S. A naval ammunition dump was struck at Mariensiel causing devastation over an area of 120 acres. Flt Sgt Burpee abandoned the mission after two hours due to the rear turret becoming unserviceable.

13/14 February 1943 - L'Orient

466 aircraft took part with 14 being lost (1.5%), each aircraft carried 14 Small Bomb Containers (SBC) each containing 236x4lb incendiary bombs, which caused the whole town to be ablaze. Burpee noted his bombs fell in the docks.

This was Flt Sergeant Leavesleys sixty eighth operation of over 400 flying hours marking this as his 'second tour' .Eddies position onboard was taken by Pilot Officer Leonard George Weller On 23 February 1943 the No 106 Sfuadron Commander, W/C Guy Gibson, recommended Flight Sergeant Leavesley for another Distinguished Flying Medal (Bar) for his meritorious service. His recommendation reads as follows:

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal after the completion of two hundred hours operational Llying, Flight Sergeant Leavesley has since flown a further two hundred hours, bringing his total number of sorties to sixty eight.

Throughout the thirty four trips of his second tour, Flight Sergeant Leavesley has continued to display those same fualities of cool courage and quiet eficiency which earned him his earlier award. Not once has he had a wireless failure, and his technical knowledge and ability has been an invaluable assistance upon which both his pilot and navigator could confidently rely.

Flight Sergeant Leavesley's magnificent record is an inspiration and encouragement to the squadron as a whole and other wireless operators in particular.

Group Captain E.I. Bussell the Officer Commanding RAF Syerston added on the following day: For sound intelligent work this airman's record on this tour of operations is unrivalled. Strongly recommended for the award of a bar to the DFM.

The award was published in The London Gazette on 20 April 1943. Flight Sergeant Burpee was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 26 March 1943, and later commissioned as a pilot officer on 3 April 1943.

He was selected along with Sgt Guy Pegler, Sgt Bill Long and WO2 Joe Brady to make up the crew of Lancaster ED865 AJ-S that

took part in Operation Chastise on 16/17 May 1943 to bomb the Sorpe Dam in the Ruhr. Unfortunately, P/O Burpee strayed off course at a very low altitude just two hours over the enemy coast and was hit by flak.

The aircraft crashed at 0200hrs near Gilze Rijen airfield in Holland, killing all the crew who were later buried at Breda.

Above: Pilot Officer Leonard Weller with Sgt Lewis Burpee

Both Sgt Leavesley and Goodings having completed another tour, luckily left Burpees crew before it transferred to 617 Sfuadron and losing their lives on Op Chastise.

Eddie Leavesley was sent to 19 OTU No 4 (O) AFU, later promoted to Warrant Officer and sent to No 7 Air Navigation School for further training, his last flight taking place on 5 December 1945 in an Avro Anson before being released from the RAF.

He married Edna Burrows in October 1949, returning to live at 47 Morley Drive, Eccelstone, St Helens area of Merseyside, where they had a son.

Eddie Leavesly died on 21st January 1986, and was cremated in the same area.

His flying logbook was auctioned at Bosley's Military Auction in Marlow, Bucks on the 14th September 2017 - it contained over a dozen signatures of W/C Guy Gibson VC, and sold for £6,800

Acknowledgements

Robert Owen- Historian for No 617 Squadron Association.
Paul Baillie collector and researcher
Ron Penhall collector/researcher.
The National Archives
No 106 Squadron Association
Bosley's Auction House
Spink Auction House
Ancestry Website

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