Richardson, Arthur William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Arthur William |
Surname | Richardson |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Date of Death | 10-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Richardson, of Enfield, Middlesex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED825 |
Markings | AJ-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Meharicourt Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Brit. Plot. Row 4. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 90 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1294108 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 617 |
Squadron Motto | Apres moi, le deluge (After me the flood) |
Trade | Flight engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In honour of the men and women of Special Duties Sqns stationed at RAF Tempsford |
Location | St. John the Baptist Church, Bamford, Derbyshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed painting and Framed inscribed Scroll |
Memorial Text | A painting given to Bamford Church by 617 Sqn RAF |
Location | South Tower, Ladybower Dam, Derbyshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the raid on the Rhur Dams by 617 Sqn RAF in May 1943 |
Location | Adjacent to South Tower, Ladybower Dam, Derbyshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Information Board |
Memorial Text | An information board detailing the raid on the Rhur Dams by 617 Sqn RAF in May 1943 |
Location | St. Vincents Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial & Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the HQ of 5Gp Bomber Command 1937-1945 where the Rhur Dams raid by 617 Sqn RAF was controlled from |
Location | Thorpe Camp Museum, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed Sqn Badges |
Memorial Text | In memory of all who served at RAF Woodhall Spa 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Jubilee Gardens, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablets |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the members of 617 Sqn RAF who gave their lives during WW2 |
Location | Jubilee Gardens, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the members of 617 Sqn RAF who have given their lives since 1945 |
Location | Eyebrook Reservoir, Caldecott, Rutland |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating 617 Sqn RAF which practiced here before the Rhur Dams raid in May 1943 |
Miscellaneous Information
Lancaster III ED825 (originally AJ-T) was one of the 24 aircraft prepared for Operation Chastise and was used in the raid against the Sorpe Dam. This was the only aircraft to breach the dam. Its Bomb Aimer was Johnny Johnson. The airframe was converted back to standard fit, re-designated AJ-E and used in training sorties and standard bombing missions. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2128/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2128/9 |
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.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 10-12-1943 |
End Date | 11-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (99% moon) |
Operation | SOE supply drop |
Reason for Loss | On detachment at Tempsford to drop arms for the Resistance, the aircraft was hit by flak while flying at low altitude and crashed in northern France |