Alistair Whitelaw Sinclair 617 Squadron RAF

[keith A]

My daughter works in a retro clothes store has been asked about a dinner jacket with a 617 Squadron badge on it. The owner was as shown above. He claimed to have flown on the 1943 Dambuster raid but this seems unlikely given that all the aircrew are listed in numerous websites and he is not with them. Does anyone know more about this individual? I have tried to defuse obvious answers by suggesting he was ground crew, served post-war etc. but it seems the owner is looking to sell the jacket as belonging to a genuine "Dambuster".

K

[alieneyes1]

Hi Keith,

I can see an "54604 F/O Alexander Sinclair", F/E in the crew of F/Lt Charles Nelson Hill, DFC in February 1945 in the 617 ORB.

But no sign of your man in the London Gazette or AIR78.

Regards,

Dave

[Alex Smart]

AIR 78 has -
Alan Wesley Sinclair - 5042929
and
Alastair Sinclair - 1564333.

There is an A,W, Sinclair buried at Broken Hill Cemetery, Broken Hill City, New South Wales, Australia. So maybe the man you seek was an RAAF airman ?

[keith A]

Nope. Sorry boys, I found those guys but neither fits the description other than initials and surname. This man claimed he was hand-picked by Gibson for the Dams raid, and was a former aircraft apprentice. He was aged 21 in 1943. One of the Sinclairs (Alexander) was a flight engineer in 617 squadron in 1945 and flew nine missions. Alistair Wilson Sinclair was an observer in the RAF in 1943 but not in 617 squadron.

[alieneyes1]

Keith,

Sorry, but I don't see anybody fitting those parameters.

There was, however, an Alexander Whitelaw Sinclair, born 23 May 1922, deceased London 1999.

Nothing for this man on AIR78 or the LG.

Regards,

Dave

[keith A]

Cheers, Dave. Very interesting. I think this may be the chap. Why they are selling the jackets twenty-five years after he died is a mystery. I saw one of his dinner jackets and the badge is definitely a 617 Squadron one. The badge obviously can easily be purchased. The fact that he doesn't exist in AIR78 looks to confirm he may have been spinning a tale. The fact that there are no photos, or records in the possession of the seller is also a curious detail.

You have solved my mystery.

K

[keith A]

We found the photos and he IS the Flight Engineer in 617 Squadron in 1945. He is also seen as part of a Lancaster crew. The Lancaster is ED562 "N" which places him with 100 squadron in 1943. He was later flight crew with BOAC. It's odd that he doesn't have an AIR78. Me messing up his full name didn't help. Mea Culpa