• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

December 9th, 1913 (Wakefield/Yorkshire, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

September 23rd, 1943

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 18. Row: A. Grave: 18.

Service number:

52024

Nationality:

British

Cyril Thorpe Anderson, born in Wakefield on December 9, 1913, trained as an engineer before joining the RAF in 1934 as ground crew. In 1940, he volunteered for aircrew, qualifying as a pilot in 1942.

Crewed with six men who would fly with him on the Dams Raid, Anderson moved from 1654 Conversion Unit to 49 Squadron in February 1943. He flew two operations before an unexpected posting to 617 Squadron. Seeking more experience, he completed three additional missions, including two to Berlin.

Married to Rose since 1939, Anderson tragically lost his infant son in March 1943.

With only seven missions, he was among the least experienced pilots in Operation Chastise. His crew took off last but encountered flak, a malfunctioning rear turret, and misty conditions. Unable to locate the target, they returned to base with their mine unused.

Gibson dismissed Anderson’s explanation, and the crew soon returned to 49 Squadron. On September 23, 1943, after 14 more operations, their aircraft was shot down near Offenbach following a successful Mannheim attack. Five crew members were buried immediately; two, including Gilbert Green, were found later and interred separately.

Post-war, all were exhumed and reburied in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

Anderson’s gravestone bears a message from his wife: “In my book of memory is marked the happy story of a love deep and true.”

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - Dambusters

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