The High Peak Dambuster: Sergeant Jack Marriott DFM
Operation Chastise, the audacious attack on the dams in the Ruhr valley, is arguably one of the most famous airborne attacks in history. During the night of 16/17 May 1943, 133 men in nineteen specially-adapted Lancasters – the famous Dambusters – set off to attack six dams deep in the heart of Germany. Eight of the bombers, and 56 of the aircrew, did not come home.

Three of the aircrew who took part were from the High Peak region of Derbyshire. Flight Lieutenant Bill Astell, the pilot of ED864 who hailed from Coombs near Chapel-en-le-Frith, was killed after flying into electricity pylons on the way to the dams. The navigator in ED924, Sergeant John Nugent, from Stoney Middleton, survived the Dambusters Raid but was killed later in the war. The third High Peak Dambuster, on whom this biography concentrates, is the little-known Sergeant Jack Marriott from Chinley, the flight engineer on Lancaster ED937 during the attack.

Marriott’s Lancaster, Z-Zebra, reached the Möhne Dam, only to discover that it had been breached, some five bouncing bombs already having been released at it. The crew, led by Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay DFC, then flew on to the Eder Dam where their ‘bouncing bomb’ exploded beneath the Lancaster after hitting the parapet of the structure.

The damaged Lancaster struggled homeward, but was shot down on the Dutch border; Jack, together with his crew, was killed in the crash.

In this autobiography, Frank Pleszak explores Jack’s life, his RAF service prior to joining 617 Squadron, and then the events leading up to and during Operation Chastise itself. But for Jack, one the immortal Dambusters, his story continued on after that historic night – particularly during the filming of the 1955 epic Dam Busters in which his aircraft features.
1140132933
The High Peak Dambuster: Sergeant Jack Marriott DFM
Operation Chastise, the audacious attack on the dams in the Ruhr valley, is arguably one of the most famous airborne attacks in history. During the night of 16/17 May 1943, 133 men in nineteen specially-adapted Lancasters – the famous Dambusters – set off to attack six dams deep in the heart of Germany. Eight of the bombers, and 56 of the aircrew, did not come home.

Three of the aircrew who took part were from the High Peak region of Derbyshire. Flight Lieutenant Bill Astell, the pilot of ED864 who hailed from Coombs near Chapel-en-le-Frith, was killed after flying into electricity pylons on the way to the dams. The navigator in ED924, Sergeant John Nugent, from Stoney Middleton, survived the Dambusters Raid but was killed later in the war. The third High Peak Dambuster, on whom this biography concentrates, is the little-known Sergeant Jack Marriott from Chinley, the flight engineer on Lancaster ED937 during the attack.

Marriott’s Lancaster, Z-Zebra, reached the Möhne Dam, only to discover that it had been breached, some five bouncing bombs already having been released at it. The crew, led by Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay DFC, then flew on to the Eder Dam where their ‘bouncing bomb’ exploded beneath the Lancaster after hitting the parapet of the structure.

The damaged Lancaster struggled homeward, but was shot down on the Dutch border; Jack, together with his crew, was killed in the crash.

In this autobiography, Frank Pleszak explores Jack’s life, his RAF service prior to joining 617 Squadron, and then the events leading up to and during Operation Chastise itself. But for Jack, one the immortal Dambusters, his story continued on after that historic night – particularly during the filming of the 1955 epic Dam Busters in which his aircraft features.
22.49 In Stock
The High Peak Dambuster: Sergeant Jack Marriott DFM

The High Peak Dambuster: Sergeant Jack Marriott DFM

by Frank Pleszak
The High Peak Dambuster: Sergeant Jack Marriott DFM

The High Peak Dambuster: Sergeant Jack Marriott DFM

by Frank Pleszak

eBook

$22.49  $29.99 Save 25% Current price is $22.49, Original price is $29.99. You Save 25%.

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

Operation Chastise, the audacious attack on the dams in the Ruhr valley, is arguably one of the most famous airborne attacks in history. During the night of 16/17 May 1943, 133 men in nineteen specially-adapted Lancasters – the famous Dambusters – set off to attack six dams deep in the heart of Germany. Eight of the bombers, and 56 of the aircrew, did not come home.

Three of the aircrew who took part were from the High Peak region of Derbyshire. Flight Lieutenant Bill Astell, the pilot of ED864 who hailed from Coombs near Chapel-en-le-Frith, was killed after flying into electricity pylons on the way to the dams. The navigator in ED924, Sergeant John Nugent, from Stoney Middleton, survived the Dambusters Raid but was killed later in the war. The third High Peak Dambuster, on whom this biography concentrates, is the little-known Sergeant Jack Marriott from Chinley, the flight engineer on Lancaster ED937 during the attack.

Marriott’s Lancaster, Z-Zebra, reached the Möhne Dam, only to discover that it had been breached, some five bouncing bombs already having been released at it. The crew, led by Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay DFC, then flew on to the Eder Dam where their ‘bouncing bomb’ exploded beneath the Lancaster after hitting the parapet of the structure.

The damaged Lancaster struggled homeward, but was shot down on the Dutch border; Jack, together with his crew, was killed in the crash.

In this autobiography, Frank Pleszak explores Jack’s life, his RAF service prior to joining 617 Squadron, and then the events leading up to and during Operation Chastise itself. But for Jack, one the immortal Dambusters, his story continued on after that historic night – particularly during the filming of the 1955 epic Dam Busters in which his aircraft features.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781399097475
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 07/07/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 272
File size: 80 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Frank Pleszak is an IT professional and lives with his family near Stockport.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Preface viii

Introduction xii

Jack Marriott 1

Norma Bagshaw 8

Joining the Royal Air Force 10

Flight Engineer Training 26

Joining an Operational Squadron 31

Avro Lancaster Crew 32

First Tour of Duty 35

Squadron X 60

12 May 1943 - Reculver: Trials and Tribulations 79

15 May - One Day to Go 84

Sunday 16 May: Up to Boarding 86

Jack and AJ-Z Prepare for Take-Off. 96

Jack and AJ-Z Taxi for Take-Off 107

Jack Takes Off 110

Route to the Dams 114

Attacking the Möhne Dam 124

McCarthy's Sorpe Attack 133

Attacking the Eder Dam 135

Jack's Return Flight 153

Brown's Sorpe Attack 159

Townsend's Ennepe Attack 162

The End of Operation Chastise 164

The Morning After and the Following Weeks 167

Confirmation of Death 179

More 617 Squadron Activity and Losses 190

More 617 Squadron Deaths 193

Jack's Decoration, but not for Operation Chastise 197

What Became of the Dambuster Lancasters and Upkeeps? 200

Reburial 203

The Story Continues and the Legend Grows 210

Norma's Pride 219

Memorials and Mysterious Memorials 225

Appendix 1 Abbreviations 233

Appendix 2 RAF Ranks, Wings and Brevets 235

Appendix 3 Operation Chastise Aircrew Names 238

Appendix 4 Avro 693 Lancaster B.III 247

Appendix 5 Avro 693 Lancaster B.III Flight Engineer's Panel 249

Appendix 6 Fate of the Lancasters Used by 617 Squadron 253

Appendix 7 Vickers Type 464 Upkeep 255

Appendix 8 Medals and Decorations 257

Appendix 9 Phonetic Alphabet 263

Appendix 10 Operation Chastise Codewords 264

Appendix 11 The Dams 268

Appendix 12 Jack Marriott's RAF Service Record 276

Appendix 13 Avro Lancaster ED933 and ED937 RAF Record Cards 278

Appendix 14 Book References 284

Appendix 15 Transcriptions of Letters and Telegraphs 286

Endnotes 302

Other Works Frank Pleszak 304

Index 307

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews