• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

December 12th, 1921 (Glasgow, Scotland)

Date of death:

December 20th, 1943 (Belgium)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Gosselies
Row: 2. Grave: 17.

Service number:

126044

Nationality:

British

Richard Macfarlane was born in Glasgow on 12 December 1921, the elder son of Daniel and Jessie Macfarlane. He attended Hyndland School and the High School of Glasgow before enrolling at the University of Glasgow in 1939 to study law. His studies were cut short when he joined the RAF in 1941, training as a navigator in Miami, USA, where he was commissioned upon completing the course.

In July 1942, Macfarlane joined 19 Operational Training Unit at RAF Kinloss. He transferred to 1660 Conversion Unit at RAF Swinderby in October to train on heavy bombers.

On 9 December 1942, Macfarlane was posted to 57 Squadron at RAF Scampton. After completing nine operations, he moved to a newly formed squadron at the same base for special mission training. As the most senior navigator in A Flight, Macfarlane became the Flight Navigation Officer.

Shortly before the raid, he took leave to visit his family in Glasgow.

Macfarlane flew on several successful operations between July and December 1943. 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 the crew could bale out. He was thrown clear and landed in a wood, while the other six perished in the wreckage.
Richard Macfarlane and his five colleagues were laid to rest in Gosselies Communal Cemetery, near Hainaut, Belgium.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - Dambusters
  - CWGC

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