Tragedy Above Hamm by Ivan Berryman. (B)

Whilst en route to the Ruhr on the night of 16th/17th May 1943 as part of Operation Chastise, Lancaster AJ-C received 20mm hits to the starboard inner engine which immediately burst into flames. Pilot Officer Warner Ottley realised instantly that all hydraulic power was knocked out and the aircraft began a lurid descent toward the ground, Ottley's final words over the intercom being Sorry boys. They got us. When ED910(G) impacted with the ground, its tail sheared off and the rear turret, including Sgt Fred Tees survived the conflagration. Tees was quickly taken prisoner, no doubt mindful of the tragic fact that he had swapped his front turret for the rear with Sgt Harry Strange before take-off. All the other crew members sadly perished.

Crew of C for Charlie :

Pilot : Plt Off W H T Ottley
Flight Engineer : Sgt R Marsden
Navigator : Flg Off J K Barrett
Wireless Operator : Sgt J Guterman
Bomb Aimer : Flt Sgt T B Johnston
Front Gunner : Sgt H J Strange
Rear Gunner : Sgt F Tees.

Supplied with the original signatures of :
Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM,
Flight Sergeant Grant S McDonald RCAF (deceased)
and
Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland RCAF.

Presentation edition of 2 prints.

Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm)