On May 16, 1943 at 9:30 PM, Avro Lancaster AJ-K (ED934) 617 Squadron 'Dambusters' flown by P/O Vernon Byers, took off for an operation on the German dams, they are flying via northern Netherlands to Germany. Near Texel the Avro Lancaster was hit by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the Waddenzee. All seven crew members are killed, F/S James McDowell was the only crew member who was found on June 22,1943 and was buried the next day in Harlingen General Cemetery, the other six crew members are missing and commemorated in England, their names are engraved into the stone walls of the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial.
As a tribute to the seven crew members of Avro Lancaster AJ-K a commemorative plaque was unveiled on Thursday May 23, 2022, in Harlingen General Cemetery.
* Moving your mouse over the crew member picture will bring up more information.
Lancaster AJ-K (ED934)
Harlingen General Cemetery
Pilot
Flight Engineer
Navigator
Wireless Operator
Bomb Aimer
Front Gunner
Rear Gunner
Flight Engineer
Navigator
Wireless Operator
Bomb Aimer
Front Gunner
Rear Gunner
P/O V.W. Byers (Can)
Sgt A.J. Taylor
F/O J.H. Warner
Sgt J. Wilkinson
P/O A.N. Whitaker
Sgt C. McA. Jarvie
F/S J. McDowell (Can)
Sgt A.J. Taylor
F/O J.H. Warner
Sgt J. Wilkinson
P/O A.N. Whitaker
Sgt C. McA. Jarvie
F/S J. McDowell (Can)
Avro Lancaster AJ-K
Runnymede RAF Memorial
 |
 |
P/O Byers
Sgt Taylor
F/O Warner
Sgt Wilkinson
P/O Whitaker
Sgt McA. Jarvie
F/S McDowell
Harlingen
Cemetery
Cemetery
Runnymede
Memorial
Memorial
Runnymede
Memorial
Memorial
Runnymede
Memorial
Memorial
Runnymede
Memorial
Memorial
Runnymede
Memorial
Memorial
Runnymede
Memorial
Memorial
The crew of Lancaster AJ-K (ED934) 617 Squadron 'Dambusters'
* Crew members pictures: © Charles Foster
The 617 Squadron Netherlands Aircrew Memorial Foundation