Frederick Tees

Frederick Tees (16 June 1922 – 15 March 1982) was a member of No. 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force who took part in Operation Chastise, the "Dambusters" raid of 1943, as a rear gunner. The raid was the inspiration for the 1955 film The Dam Busters. He ended his days as a barber in Letchworth.

Early life Tees was born in Chichester on 16 June 1922, the son of Henry Tees (1878–1944) and Elizabeth Gertrude Ayling (1885–1944).

Second World War

During the Second World War, Tees joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 with the service number 1332270. Tees was posted to No. 207 Squadron on 12 November 1942, before transferring to No. 617 Squadron on 6 April 1943. Tees later recalled that as the aircraft began to rapidly descend, Pilot Officer Ottley said over the intercom "I'm sorry boys, they got us". The aircraft then crashed.

Tees managed to escape from the rear turret and was found unconscious and badly burnt on the ground and was taken prisoner of war.

Later life In 1967 he took part in the Dam Busters reunion held on the 24th anniversary of the raid at Scampton in Lincolnshire.

Later in life Tees lived at 12 Wilbury Hills Road Caravan Site and ran a gentlemen's barber shop in Station Road in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.