• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

September 18th, 1913 (Netherton/Yorkshire, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

May 17th, 1943

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Bergen
Plot: 2. Row: D. Grave: 6.

Service number:

655431

Nationality:

British

Wilfred Ibbotson, born on 18 September 1913 in Netherton, near Wakefield, Yorkshire, was the second son of Herbert and Anne Ibbotson, and one of four children. His father had been a miner, while Wilfred worked on a farm after completing his schooling. In 1938, he married Doris Bray, and together they had two daughters.

When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the Army as a motorcycle despatch rider before volunteering for the RAF in 1941, where he underwent training as a gunner. After completing his training, he was assigned to the 10 Operational Training Unit at RAF Abingdon. During his training, in September 1942, Ibbotson participated in two operations.

Later that year, in December, he was transferred to the 1660 Conversion Unit at Swinderby, where he flew operations against Berlin. His final posting was to the renowned 617 Squadron in preparation for the Dams Raid.

On May 16, 1943 at 9:47 PM, the Avro Lancaster III ED887 of the 617 Squadron took off in Lincolnshire to take part in the attack on the Möhne Dam. At 2:58 am the Lancaster was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed in the surf near Castricum.

The entire crew died.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC

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