A little late with this one - it's only just been reported in 'FlyPast' magazine - but a memorial has been unveiled at Den Ham in the Netherlands, dedicated to Flt. Lt. Les Knight, DSO who died in the meadow behind the memorial.
He was still at the controls of Lancaster III, JB144, severely damaged on the disastrous Dortmund-Ems Canal raid of September 16th, 1943. Les remained at the controls to gain height, thus allowing his entire crew ( who breached the Eder Dam the previous May ), to bale out. As the crippled aircraft dived toward Den Ham, eyewitnesses saw the nose lift to miss the houses before the aircraft plunged into the ground.
All from Les Knight's crew survived the war.
One, Ray Grayston, is still living and can still be moved to tears at the memory of what his 'Skipper' did for his crew. Les Knight was the antithesis of the 'Australian Pilot', a quiet, non-drinking, self-effacing man who was, as Ray Grayston says, ' a Tiger behind the controls of a Lancaster'.
I rarely use the word 'hero' but make no apology in this case. All with an interest in Bomber Command will appreciate the respect shown by the Dutch people to Les Knight.
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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson
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Re: Dambuster Hero honoured.
