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Pilot Officer George
Deering (DFC) - RCAF |
| Pilot Officer George
Deering was serving as a Front Gunner on board Lancaster Mk.III
EE-144 coded AJ-S during an operation to breach the Dortmund Ems
Canal on September 15/16, 1943. The aircraft departed
Scampton at
2356
hours
and encountered
difficulty when attempting to clear a church steeple in the town of
Nordhoorn. After gaining altitude to clear the obstacle a flak gun
opened up on the aircraft, the rear gunner fired back and disabled
the gun but the Lancaster was mortally wounded as its starboard fuel
tank caught fire. The aircraft rolled uncontrollably and crashed
near the edge of town, the entire crew was lost. The crew consisted of:
|
Name |
Service |
Trade |
Hometown |
Age |
|
S/L George Holden (DFC, DSO & MiD) |
RAFVR |
Pilot |
Twickenham, Middlesex |
30 |
|
Sgt Dennis Powell |
RAFVR |
Flight Engineer |
Sidcup, Kent |
21 |
|
F/L Torger Harlo Taerum (DFC) |
RCAF |
Navigator |
Calgary, Alberta |
- |
|
F/L Robert Hutchison (DFC & Bar) |
RAFVR |
W/Op/AG |
Liverpool |
25 |
|
F/O Frederick Spafford (DFC & DFM) |
RAAF |
Bomb Aimer |
- |
25 |
|
P/O George Deering (DFC) |
RCAF |
Front Gunner |
Toronto, Ontario |
24 |
|
F/O Henry Pringle (DFC) |
RAFVR |
M/U Gunner |
- |
- |
|
P/O T. Meikle (DFM) |
RAFVR |
Rear Gunner |
- |
- |
George Deering, along with F/L Taerum,
F/L Hutchison and F/O Spafford flew as part of Wing Commander Guy Gibson's
crew during the famous Dams raid in the spring of 1943. He manned
the front turret of the Lancaster during the attack on the Mohne
dam during which he fired on enemy defences and afterwards as W/C Gibson flew cover for another attacking Lancaster. For his
actions he and and the nine other airmen flying with various 617
squadron crews that night were awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross, their collective citation reads:
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"On
the night of the 16th May, 1943, a force of Lancaster
bombers was detailed to attack the Moehne, Eder and Sorpe
dams in Germany. The operation was one of great difficulty
and hazard, demanding a high degree of skill and courage and
close co-operation between the crews of the aircraft
engaged. Nevertheless, a telling blow was struck at the
enemy by the successful breaching of the Mohne and Eder
dams. This outstanding success reflects the greatest credit
on the efforts of the above mentioned personnel who
participated in the operation, in various capacities as
members of aircraft crew" |
Following the Dams raid
George and most of his crew were assigned to fly as Squadron
Leader Holden's crew. George Andrew Deering was the son of Samuel Deering and of Martha Deering
of Toronto, Ontario, he enlisted in the RCAF in July of 1941. He
is buried with his crew in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
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Photos courtesy of
the RCAF Museum.
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