My Father and the Dambusters.

[David Layne]

I have just finished reading my father's rather battered 1946 edition of Gibson's "Enemy Coast Ahead."

At the back of the book is a listing of names of some of the crews. I was intrigued to see check marks against some of the names and I presume these were people he knew.

In my own limited way I have discovered that he was with F/Lt. Hopgood at 14 O.T.U. and 50 Squadron. He was also at 50 Squadron with Taerum and Trevor-Roper.

Another Dambuster at 50 Squadron was Tytherleigh from Maudslay's crew, who is not listed here.

Has anyone any knowledge of where Maudslay, Barlow, Maltby, Knight, and Spafford were stationed prior to their posting to 617 Squadron?

[Kyt]

Maudsley:

was born in Leamington Spa on July 21st 1921, the youngest child of Reginald Walter Maudslay (1/9/1871 - 14/12/1934) and his wife Susan Gwendolen (14.11.1881 � 9.2.1974). He had a sister, Margaret Kate (18.2.1910 � 9.7.1979), who was 11 years older. His family was connected to the Standard Motor Co and the Maudslay Motor Co.

In 1925 the family moved to Sherbourne Priors, an imposing house in Watery Lane, now a Language School. His father died in 1934, when Henry was only thirteen years old. Henry went to a Prep School in Gloucestershire and then to Eton, 1935 to 1940. He showed great ability as a long distance runner and won the School Mile three years in succession. He was also a good oarsman in pairs and as a member of the 'Eights' crew. In his final year he was Captain of Boats and of Athletics. He was elected by his peers to 'Pop', the elite Eton Schoolboy Society, of which Prince William was recently a member.

His family left Sherboume in 1937 and moved to Willersey, near Broadway in Worcestershire, to Foxhill Manor, an imposing house with magnificent views, now owned by Group 4 Security. Henry's name is on the War Memorial at the entrance to St Peter's Church in Willersey, near Broadway. His parents are buried in Sherboume churchyard and near their headstone is a plaque in memory of his sister, who died in 1979. They can be found between the church and the lake.

Whilst still at school in April 1940, Henry volunteered for the RAF and was called up in that July. He was a shy quiet young man, who did not like having his photograph taken. Whilst in the RAF, when he was not on duty, he always changed into civilian clothes.

From 1940 - 1943 he did so much. After call up, he did his initial training at RAF Uxbridge then on to Bexhill and Paignton. In September 1940 he was accepted for pilot training and sent to No.4 Elementary Flying Training School at Brough near Hull, where he was taught the rudiments of flying on the Blackburn B2 and Tiger Moth. In October 1940 he was posted to No.32 Service Flying Training School at Ternhill, Shropshire to convert to the twin-engined AvroAnson. During November 1940 he was transferred to Canada in the initial part of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Whilst stationed at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, he completed his training on Ansons and returned to England in February 1941. After a period with No.25 Operational Training Unit at Finningley, Yorkshire, he converted to the Handley Page Hampden and was posted to No 44 Squadron at Waddington, Lines.

Having successfully completed his initial training laying mines, he undertook twenty-nine operations to targets such as: Kiel, Cologne, Essen, Frankfurt, Kassel, Mannheim and Lorient. In November 1941, in poor weather, he single handedly attacked two enemy cargo vessels off the Dutch Coast, which resulted Maudslay being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1942.

From December 1941 he was attached with other members of No. 44 Squadron to Boscombe Down, Wilts, to carry out service trials and work with the new Avro Lancaster. He returned to Waddington in February 1942 and trained other Squadron members to master the new aircraft. In May and June 1942 he took part in attacks on Cologne and Essen.

In July 1942 he transferred to No 1654 Conversion Unit at Wigsiey, Notts, converting No5 Group aircrew via the Avro Manchester to the Lancaster. At the end of December 1942 he applied to return to operational flying and was posted to No 50 Squadron at Skellingthorpe, Lines, flying Lancasters. After completing a further thirteen operations, including several over the Alps to Italy, F/Lt Maudslay together with his crew was posted to Scampton, Lincs, on 25th March 1943.

Maudslay was promoted to Squadron Leader and became B Flight Commander of the new 617 Squadron being formed under Wing Commander Guy Gibson DSO DFC.

(the article continues with 617 Squadron details)

Barford Community Website

[Kyt]

Details on Maltby:

David Maltby

[Kyt]

Spafford:

Spafford, Frederick Michael (1918 - 1943) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

[Kyt]

Someone will need to check their 617 books for details on Knight and Barlow

[David Layne]

Thanks Kyt. As far as Maudslay and Maltby are concerned I cannot see exactly where their flight paths and my father's crossed although they were around the same stations at various times.

Spafford was at 50 Squadron the same time as my father.

[morse1001]

Originally Posted by Kyt

Someone will need to check their 617 books for details on Knight and Barlow

Plt Of Knight, was ex 50 Sqdn FO Barlow was ex 61 Sqdn

[David Layne]

Originally Posted by morse1001

Plt Of Knight, was ex 50 Sqdn FO Barlow was ex 61 Sqdn

Thanks Morse.