Achieve Your Aim
As part of Group 5 PFF Target marking
Lancaster
Bombing up
Lancaster
Crew needed for a Lancaster
Lest We forget
The memorial at Woodhall Spa
++Latest News++
OPERATION
CHASTISE
16/17th MAY 1943
The Dams Raids Carried
out by the newly formed 617 Squadron this was to be there first
raid.
97 Squadron “Dam Busters”
OFFICERS
J10160 F/O D.Rodger GDG To 617 Sqn 25.3.43
60335 F/L D.J.Maltby GD Ditto 25.3.43
49575 P/O J.Fort GDN Ditto 25.3.43
F/O F.G.Rumbles GDN Ditto 25.3.43
NZ413492 F/L J.L.Munro GD Ditto 25.3.43
134024 P/O G.E.Osborne GDN To 617 Sqn Scampton 4.4.43
J9346 F/L J.C.McCarthy GD To 617 Sqn Scampton 25.3.43
AIRMEN
1513557 Sgt W.Hatton F/E To 617 Sqn 25.3.43
1144181 Sgt V.Nicholson Nav Ditto 25.3.43
1311959 Sgt J.Stone W/AG Ditto 25.3.43
1248156 Sgt H.Simmonds AG Ditto 25.3.43
1539692 Sgt L.Williams AG Ditto 25.3.43
652494 Sgt F.E.Appleby F/E Ditto 25.3.43
1479639 Sgt M.Howarth AG Ditto 25.3.43
1199696 Sgt G.F.Johnson AB Ditto 25.3.43
1345069 Sgt A.Batson AG Ditto 25.3.43
1157896 Sgt J.L.Clay Nav Ditto 25.3.43
639976 Sgt W.Radcliffe F/E Ditto 25.3.43
1107754 Sgt L.Eaton W/AG Ditto 25.3.43
R97620 Sgt P.E.Pigeon W/AG Ditto 25.3.43
R117723 F/Sgt D.A.McLean Nav Ditto 25.3.43
R92211 F/Sgt H.Weeks AG To 617 Sqn 25.3.43
652403 Sgt J.Pulford FE To 617 Sqn 4.4.43ED825T
Pilot: F/L Joseph Charles McCarthy – Born 1919 USA. Awarded DFC 14.5.43. DSO 18.5.43. Bar to DFC 28.4.44. Died 1998.
Flight Engineer: Sgt William Radcliffe – Born Canada. Awarded DFC 28.5.44. Killed in car accident 1952 after his car went into a river.
Navigator: F/Sgt Donald Arthur McLean – Born Canada. Awarded DFM 28.5.43. Retired as Wing Commander.
Bomb Aimer: Sgt George Leonard Johnson – Born 1921 Horncastle, Lincs. Awarded DFM 28.5.44. Retired as Squadron Leader. Still alive.
Wireless Op: F/Sgt Leonard Eaton – Awarded DFM 30.6.44. Died 1974.
Front Gunner: Sgt Ronald Batson – Awarded DFM 23.5.44.
Rear Gunner: F/O David Rodger – Born 1918 Canada. Awarded DFC 15.9.44. Died 1.9.2004 in Ontario.
Lest We Forget
************
World War 2
In all, 97 Squadron lost 123 aircraft on operations in the course of completing 4066 sorties. Personnel from the Squadron won 18 DSOs, one OBE, 228 DFCs, 41 Bars to the DFC, one BEM, 163 DFMs, 2 Bars to the DFM, 2 United States of America DFCs, 2 Belgian Croix de Guerres and one Russian Medal of Valour. Recently the French Government has bestowed the la legion d'honneur to members of 97 Squadron
Cold War
In 1955 the contract from the United States Government for the development of an IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic missile) system went to the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, which by prodigious feats of design and engineering delivered the first SM - 75 Thor in October 1956 and despite an inauspicious start in the flight test programme - the first 4 launches ended in failure - the system was declared operational in 1959 and place under the control of bomber Command.
Today
The squadron continues today through the 97 (straits settlements) Squadron Association. The Association is for all those who have served with 97 Squadron and is open to their relatives and friends as well.
This is the location for our Memory Page, where we remember those who survived the war but have since sadly departed us. It also contains news items and photo galleries from previous reunion events. This is continually being updated.
History
The history of 97 Squadron from its forming in December 1917, at Waddington to assuming the title of “97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron”,in February 1941. Finally its cold war importance.
Roll Of Honour
97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron suffered losses during World war 2. Listed here all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
"Lest We Forget"
Links
The 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron Association is proud to be associated with.
Contact Us
We are always updating this site. If you notice any error or omission please get in touch here.