• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

September 6th, 1923 (London, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

December 20th, 1943

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Gosselies
Row: 2. Grave: 14.

Service number:

1386420

Nationality:

British

Thomas William Maynard, born in Wandsworth, London, on 6 September 1923, was the son of police constable Sydney Maynard. Known as both Bill and Tom within his family, he joined the RAF in December 1941, training as a wireless operator/air gunner. He was posted to 1660 Conversion Unit in October 1942, joining 57 Squadron that December.

On 15 March, after nine missions, Maynard and his crew were reassigned to C Flight, which eventually frustrated Maynard due to frequent last-minute cancellations.

Maynard and others were transferred to a newly formed squadron for specialized training. He completed nine operations before transferring from 57 Squadron to a newly formed squadron at the same base for special mission training.

For the Dams Raid, all mid-upper gunners, including Bill Maynard, were reassigned to the front turret of the modified Lancasters. Maynard went on in participating on successful operations until December 1943, earning a promotion to Flight Sergeant.

His luck ran out on 20 December when his plane was shot down at 14,000 feet over Merbes-Le-Château, Belgium. The aircraft exploded before they could bale out. He was apparently thrown clear and landed in a wood, but the other six members perished in the wreckage.

Bill Maynard and his five colleagues were laid to rest in Gosselies Communal Cemetery, near Hainaut, Belgium.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - Dambusters

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