Ii./kg26

[spidge]

Some more info here:

Navigator Tom 'Tucker' Jaye, aged 20, from Crook, County Durham, aboard ED-865 AJ-S,

Tom Jaye's family were told he was missing the following day, but his death was not officially acknowledged until November 1946.
His miner father Jim and mother Lena never knew the true worth of his sacrifice, which did not come to light until years later.
Flying at less than 150ft, ED-865 had been diverted to attack the Lister dam and strayed slightly off course into a barrage of flak from the Luftwaffe-occupied Gilze Rijen Airfield, in Holland. Eye witnesses saw it caught like a moth in the glare of searchlights, burst into a 'fierce red spreading glow' and crash into airfield buildings, knocking out enemy radar.
Dorothy Jones, the widow of Tom's older half-brother Norman, says: "We only learned a lot later that the effect of knocking out the radar had a greater long-term impact on the war than hitting the dams."
Tom's cousin and great friend Alf Willoughby, who called the flyer "Titch" because of his height, had used a day's leave to see him at 617 Squadron's base RAF Scampton but the crews were locked away on secret training for their mission.
Tom's family was proud when he passed exams for Wolsingham Grammar School. But, despite his education, he couldn't find a job in Crook and, after working as a clerk at Howlish Hall, near Coundon, went south to Sudbury to test Royal Navy equipment.
In 1941 he volunteered for the RAF, but his lack of height ruled him out as a pilot. Undeterred, he sailed for America to train as a navigator in Miami, Florida, passing out with flying colours.
Alf Willoughby, from Howden-le-Wear, understood Tom's feelings on war better than anybody else. The pair had shared a heart-to-heart on Tom's final leave.
He says: "He didn't need to join up because he was in a reserved occupation but he volunteered.
"He told me he hated the bombing and he hated Guy Gibson, but he didn't tell me why. Gibson got everything. The lads who were on the flights hardly got recognised at all.
"I was proud to know Tom, we all were, but I wish he hadn't joined up. He was a great lad and it was an absolute waste."
Dorothy Jones adds: "None of the flyers liked the bombing because they knew they were hitting ordinary people on the ground who were just like themselves. But it didn't stop them joining up because they all wanted to go to war for their country."

[Kitty]

Hey Nick. Welcome to the forum. Now if you find anything Lanc relate it's mine, OK?

[spidge]

By the way, The Dambusters site has the incorrect name for this lad.

His surname is Jaye not Faye which I checked up on CWGC.

[Nostalgair]

Welcome aboard Nick.

Cheers

Owen

[Antipodean Andy]

Originally Posted by Kitty

Hey Nick. Welcome to the forum. Now if you find anything Lanc relate it's mine, OK?

Run while you still can, Nick.

[II./KG26]

I have a nice lancaster crashsite for you?

[spidge]

The crash on the German radar installation and the long term effect is quite interesting.

If this is common knowledge there should be more information available.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by II./KG26

I have a nice lancaster crashsite for you?

It was a crash site or could be!

Nick,

Did you read the report about the radar destruction!

[Antipodean Andy]

Interesting that the crater seems to continue off to the left so could be bigger than what it appears. How do you know it's a Lanc crash site, Nick?

It must be amazing to search around such an historic area.

[Hugh]

Welcome aboard Nick, I hope you enjoy the site.
Regards
Hugh