LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Alan Seblery SPIRES
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 975262
Born: 1917, Brisbane QLD
Enlisted in the RAF: Date unavailable
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Unit: No. 115 Squadron (RAF), RAF East Wretham, Norfolk
Died: Air Operations: (No. 115 Squadron Lancaster aircraft DS647), Netherlands, 12 June 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands
CWGC Additional Information: No further information
Roll of Honour: Unknown
DFM Citation: This Air Gunner has participated in many successful sorties. On the night of 4 July 1941, during a raid on Lorient, he destroyed an enemy fighter. In January 1942, his aircraft was engaged in combat for 15 minutes with a Junkers 88; Sergeant Spires shot away a large section of the aircraft. In March 1942, when held by searchlights and attacked by a Junkers 88, he engaged the enemy aircraft and also passed directions regarding evasive action to his captain. He continued firing at the enemy until he was blinded completely by searchlights. Sergeant Spires then advised the captain to dive to ground level and in this way the attacker was evaded. The coolness and resource of this airman undoubtedly saved the aircraft. He has at all times displayed courage, skill and determination which have been an inspiration to all. (Citation dated 26 June 1942)
On 12 June 1943, Lancaster DS647 took off from East Wretham to attack Dusseldorf. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Mill (ENE of Uden), Netherlands and all its crew members were killed.
The crew members of DS647 were:
Sergeant Albert Derek Bulmer (1334618) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Philip Arthur Chapman (1380243) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Squadron Leader Douglas Parr Fox DFC (61479) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Alan Morton Johnson (1380770) (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Peter Francis Nixon (957106) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Alan Seblery Spires DFM (975262) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer Kenneth Loren Spring (R/102127) (RCAF) (Navigator)
References:
Australian War Memorial AWM65 4800
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On Line Records
RAF Commands Website