Dyer, Maurice Ballard Died
Personal Information
| Rank | F/O |
| Forename(s) | Maurice Ballard |
| Surname | Dyer |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 31 |
| Date of Death | 26-07-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Charles Chester Dyer and Jessie Louise Dyer (née Ballard), of Sutton, Quebec. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
| Serial Number | ND903 |
| Markings | PM-G |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | France |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Orleans Main Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Plot 1. Row B. Coll. grave 6-9. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 31 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | J/85469 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 1 |
| Squadron | 103 |
| Squadron Motto | Noli me tangere (Touch me not) |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
| Location | Anglian Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Plaques |
| Memorial Text | Pillar : RAF Elsham Wolds, 1941-1945, For those who made the great sacrifice. Plaque :This tree is dedicated to all those who served with 103 Squadron Royal Air Force. Plaque : RAF Elsham Wolds, Opened in Summer 1941 as a bomber station in No1 group, it was the home of No103 Squadron and from Elsham Wolds until 1945 Wellington, Halifax and Lancaster aircraft of No 103 and other squadrons flew on bombing missions against targets in Germany and occupied Europe. |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-641
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-641" |
Miscellaneous Information
| Maurice was born at Sutton, P.Q on 22 November 1912. His father worked as an Insurance Agent, born at Sutton and his mother was born at Vermont, USA. He had a sister Frances Augusta. The school Maurice attended was Sutton High School in Sutton between 1919-1932 where he completed Primary 11th Grade (High School Entrance and Jnr. matric). His sport interests were baseball, tennis,hockey, fishing and hunting. He worked at Sutton Creamery as a truck driver, 1932-1937; at Baker’s Garage, Sutton, as a general mechanic 1937-1938; helping his Insurance Agent father 1938-1940 and in the Civil Service as an Immigration Inspector 1940-1941. |
| Maurice enlisted on 4 March 1942 and after training embarked from Halifax on 27 May 1943 for the U.K., arriving at 3PRC on 5 June 1943. He then went to 20 (P) AFU 6 July 1943, 83 OTU 12 October 1943, No. 11 Base 20 February 1944 and 103 Squadron 17 May 1944. He was killed a little more than two months later. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/14 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/14 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Blanchard R A O (Sgt) | Died |
| Dey R (P/O) | Died |
| Nanson R W (Sgt) | Died |
| Price R J (Sgt) | Died |
| Tommie L (W/O) | Died |
| Warren R J B (F/O) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 25-07-1944 |
| End Date | 26-07-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (28% moon) |
| Operation | Stuttgart |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Most probably shot down by Oblt. Adolf Kaiser (1/NJG2) , the attack taking place 15 km West of Gien at 00:38 hrs. And crashed near La Ferté St Cyr not far from the Loire river. |