• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

July 13th, 1922 (Hamilton/Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

May 17th, 1943 (Borken, Germany)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 21. Row: D. Grave: 16-18.

Service number:

R/103201

Nationality:

Canadian

Francis Anthony (Frank) Garbas, born on 13 July 1922 in Hamilton, Ontario, was one of nine children of Polish immigrants Stanley and Mary Garbas. Many Polish families, including his, settled in Hamilton for work in the steel mills. A skilled athlete, Garbas attended Cathedral High School and Technical Institute and played rugby with Albert Garshowitz in the local Eastwood team, later becoming Canadian champions. After school, he worked for Otis Elevators before enlisting in the RCAF.

Qualifying as a wireless operator/air gunner in Canada, Garbas arrived in England in summer 1942 and trained at RAF Stormy Down. Posted to RAF Wigsley for Lancaster conversion. After completing training, Garbas joined 9 Squadron at RAF Scampton just before Christmas and later reassigned to 57 Squadron.

Garbas flew first operation with the Astell crew on 13 February 1943 and completed several missions before transferring to 617 Squadron on 25 March. Less than two months later, their Lancaster was struck by flak and hit a pylon near Marbeck, killing all onboard. Initially buried in Borken, Frank Garbas and his crewmates were reinterred post-war in the Reichswald Forest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - Dambusters

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