• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

October 13th, 1918 (Dunsfold/Surrey, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

April 15th, 2010 (Woodhall Spa/Lincolnshire, United Kingdom)

Nationality:

British

Raymond Ernest Grayston, born on 13 October 1918 in Dunsfold, Surrey, worked as an automobile engineer before joining the RAF at the start of the war. Fascinated by speed and flying, he initially served as ground crew but trained as a flight engineer for heavy bombers. In October 1942, he joined 50 Squadron.

Grayston flew 18 operations before transferring to 617 Squadron in March 1943.
He played a vital role in AJ-N’s successful strike on the Eder Dam during the Dams Raid, exemplifying teamwork with his pilot. On 15/16 September 1943, while attacking the Dortmund-Ems canal, Knight's aircraft was damaged by trees, losing two engines and the tail unit. Grayston helped stabilize the plane for the crew to bale out but stayed until the end, bidding farewell to Knight, who did not survive. Grayston was captured, spending time at Stalag Luft III and later enduring the Long March before liberation in 1945.

Post-war, Grayston worked at Hawker Siddeley as a quality inspector, retiring in 1984. Married to Sylvia Jefferies in 1976, he passed away in Woodhall Spa on 15 April 2010.

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• Photo 1: IWM CH11049
• - Dambusters

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