215105 Flgoff Charles Rowland Williams DFCRoyal Australian Air Force 61 Squadron from:Torrens Creek, Queensland, Australia (d.16 May 1943) Flying Officer Charles Rowland Williams, Royal Australian Air Force.
Born in 1909, son of Horace Edward and Hedwig Helena Williams, of Torrens Creek, Queensland, Australia.
Charles served with 61 Squadron as a wireless operator in 1942/1943, first flying with Flying Officer Frow as his pilot, and later with Flight Sergeant Woodward, RNZAF.
The usual aircraft for Flight Sergeant Woodward's crew was Lancaster I W4830 "E Edward." Flying Officer Williams transferred from 61 Squadron along with the crew's navigator, Pilot Officer Phillip Burgess, to 617 Squadron in late March or early April 1943;
Williams and Burgess were both killed in the Dams Raid flying with Flight Lieutenant Norman Barlow RAAF, also a 61 Squadron veteran.
Williams was awarded the DFC for his service with 61 Squadron.
Extract from historical record:
"F/Lt Barlow and his crew (Charles Williams) were assigned to the second wave, set to attack the Sorpe Dam, and on May 16, 1943, theirs was the first aircraft to leave Scampton. They never reached the target; at 23:50 hours their Lancaster, serial ED927/G, coded AJ-E, struck a high tension pylon, exploded, and crashed"
I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who has any relatives who flew with Williams.
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