• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

March 2nd, 1922 (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada)

Date of death:

May 16th, 1943 (Haldern, Germany)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 5. Row: C. Grave: 8.

Service number:

J/10212

Nationality:

Canadian

Harvey Sterling Glinz was born on 2 March 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His father, Ernest, was a postman, and Glinz attended Lord Roberts and Kelvin Schools before working as a clerk for the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Glinz joined the RCAF in September 1941 as an air gunner/wireless operator. He excelled in training, graduating first in his air gunnery class in February 1942 and earning a commission after leaving Canada. He arrived in England in March.

After further training, Glinz was posted to 61 Squadron in October 1942. His first mission was a raid on Turin on 28 November.

Between December and February, Glinz flew eight missions but then took sick leave. Medical reports revealed he suffered from catarrh, ear infections due to British weather, and mild anxiety caused by landing crashes during his second and fourth missions.

Glinz joined 617 Squadron. As A Flight gunnery leader, Glinz oversaw gunner training—a role likely assigned due to rank rather than experience, as others in A Flight had completed full tours. On 16 May, with training complete, Glinz manned the front turret of AJ-E during the Dams Raid. Tragically, the aircraft collided with a pylon near Haldern.

The seven crew members were buried by the Germans in Düsseldorf North Cemetery. Only Leslie Whillis, Philip Burgess, Alan Gillespie, and Charlie Williams were positively identified. After the war, all were reburied by the RAF's Missing Research and Enquiries Service.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - Dambusters

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