Chambers, Walter Owen Earl
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Walter Owen Earl |
Surname | Chambers |
Gender | M |
Age | 31 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 07-09-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Fred W. Chambers and Mildred Jane Chambers (née Nelson), of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB177 |
Markings | GT- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 7. E. 19-20. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 143 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/9845 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 156 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary Magdalene Church, Warboys, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | We light the way" This tablet is placed in memory of Flight Lieutenant JL Sloper DFC and Bar, RAFVR. And in tribute to all who served with 156 Squadron Path Finders Force at RAF Warboys, 1942-1945, In gratitude. |
Location | Tithe Farm, Warboys, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Pillars and inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | From this RAF Station Warboys 156 squadrons No 8 (PFF) group, marked targets for Bomber Command 1942-1944 |
Miscellaneous Information
Walter was born on 16 June 1912 at Pembroke, Ontario. His father, who was deceased by the time of Walter's enlistment, worked in confectionary. He had a brother LAC Frederick A. Chambers, RCAF at Trenton and a sister shown as Leading Aircraftwoman T. Chambers, RAF. The Schools he attended were Pembroke Public, 1921- 1928 followed by Pembroke Collegiate Institute, 1928-1931. He spent a lot of time playing sport. Walter worked for his father as a Confectionary clerk between 1931 and 1933 and then for himself as a gardener at Beechwood Cemetery. He worked for Singer Sewing Machine for a year followed by driving a truck for six months. |
He then enlisted on 17 January 1938 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Canada on 28 October 1942, arriving at 3 PRC on 5 November before going on to 30 OTU 8 December 1942 and 156 Squadron 15 April 1943. Sadly, Walter was then to lose his life on 7 September 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1041/40 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1041/39 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 06-09-1943 |
End Date | 07-09-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Warboys |
Day/Night Raid | Night (44% moon) |
Operation | Munich. 404 aircraft, 16 losses (4.0%). The target was mostly cloud-covered and neither sky or ground marking were particularly effective. Most of the main crew instead made a timed approach from the Ammersee lake, over which they passed on their approach. The bombing was somewhat scattered. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night fighter flown by Hauptmann Manfred Meurer of Stab II./NJG 5, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Parchim airfield in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Crashed in the target area. |