• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

June 16th, 1918 (Adelaide/South Australia, Australia)

Date of death:

September 16th, 1943

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 16. Row: B. Grave: 13-16.

Service number:

407380

Nationality:

Australian

Frederick Michael Spafford, originally named Frederick Michael Burke, was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on June 16, 1918. Following the death of his parents, he was adopted by his maternal grandfather, who also changed his surname to Spafford.

In September 1940, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). After completing his training through the Empire Air Training Scheme, he arrived in England in August 1941. Following additional training, he specialized as a bomb aimer and joined 50 Squadron in May 1942, initially flying in Manchesters before transitioning to Lancasters.

In recognition of his exceptional skills and commendable conduct, Spafford received the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) in October 1942.

He was commissioned in January 1943 and completed his tour in March, after which he was assigned to 617 Squadron to prepare for the Dams Raid.

During the Dams Raid, Gibson was the first to attack; although his mine was released accurately and skipped multiple times, it ultimately sank and detonated approximately 50 yards short of the intended target. Upon his safe return, Spafford was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Tragically, Spafford lost his life during the raid on the Dortmund Ems canal on September 16, 1943, and he is interred at the Reichswald Forest cemetery.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

October 20th, 1942

"Sergeant Spafford is an air bomber of high merit. He has taken part in many sorties and, by his skill, has played a great part in the successes obtained. He has set a praiseworthy example."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Pilot Officer

Unit:

No. 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 28th, 1943

Awarded for:

Operation Chastise

• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35750/data.pdf
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36030/data.pdf
  - Dambusters

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