Farewell to Canada’s last Dambuster
News Article / February 7, 2019
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RCAF Public Affairs
Canada’s last Dambuster has slipped the surly bonds of earth.
Sergeant (retired) Frederick Edwin Sutherland died Monday, January 21, 2019, at the age of 95. He was the last living Canadian who participated in the famed Dambusters Raid on the night of 16-17 May, 1943. The raid was carried out by the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron, formed specifically for the secret mission.
Only one Dambuster is still with us: the RAF’s Squadron Leader George Leonard “Johnny” Johnson, who is 97.
Sergeant Sutherland joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 18 and was only 20 when he became front gunner with Flight Lieutenant Les Knight’s Lancaster bomber crew at 617 Squadron. After the development of the innovative “bouncing bomb” by Barnes Wallis and weeks of practice by the hand-picked aircrews, 19 specially-modified Lancasters and their 133 crew members were sent on a daring mission to destroy the Möhne, Sorpe, Eder and Ennepe dams in the Ruhr River in the heartland of Germany’s industrial complex. The mission was dubbed “Operation Chastise”.
Flight Lieutenant Knight’s crew breached the Eder Dam on the last run against the structure and returned safely to England. However, eight aircraft were lost during the raid; of the 133 men who took off from RAF Scampton near Lincoln, England, 53 were killed, including 14 Canadians. Seventeen members of the RCAF survived: 16 Canadians and one American.
Sergeant Sutherland was not so fortunate four months later when his crew set out to attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal in Germany on the night of September 15, 1943. Their Lancaster was hit, but Flight Lieutenant Knight managed to get the damaged aircraft across the border to Holland before the crew baled out. Flight Lieutenant Knight was killed, however, trying to land the crippled Lancaster
Sergeant Sutherland was picked up by the Dutch resistance, given clothing and false papers, and put on a train—filled with Germans—to Paris. From Paris, he and his crewmate, Flying Officer Harold Sidney Hobday, travelled south by train and truck. They walked across the Pyrenees and eventually to Gibraltar on the famed “Chemin de la Liberté” route. From there he was flown back to England.
“Fred’s flying career was over,” says journalist Elinor Florence, whose cousin Margaret was married to Sergeant Sutherland. “Once an airman was rescued by the Resistance, he wasn’t allowed to fly again in case he was captured and forced to reveal the identities of his rescuers.” He sailed back to Canada in December, reaching Edmonton in January and marrying Margaret the next day: January 5, 1944. He had to get his parents’ permission to marry, however, because he hadn’t yet reached 21—legal age to marry.
“After the war, he became a forestry inspector for the Government of Alberta,” continues Ms. Florence, “and worked in Calgary, Edmonton and Rocky Mountain House, where he retired.”
With files from Elinor Florence.
Sergeant Sutherland’s funeral was held on January 28, 2019 at the Rocky Mountain House Royal Canadian Legion. The family requested no memorial donations or flowers be sent.
The family of Fred Sutherland is very sad to report that Fred died in Rocky Mountain House on January 21, 2019.
Fred was born in Peace River, Alberta on February 26, 1923 to Dr. Frederick H. and Clara Sutherland. As a boy Fred developed a great love of the outdoors, spending every free moment in the “bush”. As a school boy Fred also discovered his other lifelong love, Margaret Baker.
In 1941, as soon as he turned 18, Fred left high school and joined the RCAF. He was seconded to the RAF and served in 50 and 617 (Dambuster) Squadrons. Fred was front gunner in the aircraft that broke the Eder Dam in May, 1943. On September 17th he was forced to bail out of a crippled bomber over Holland. Hiding and travelling with the help of the Dutch and French Resistance he reached the Pyrenees. From there, the Basque guided him into Spain. He arrived in Gibraltar in December 1943.
Fred and Margaret were married in Edmonton on January 5, 1944, the day after his return. They were married for 73 years.
Fred was a gunnery instructor in Canada until he left the RCAF in November 1944. He then worked as a clerk, and with night classes completed his high school.
Fred graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Forestry in 1952. He worked for numerous logging companies in British Columbia before joining the Alberta Forest Service in 1958. After postings in Blairmore, Calgary, and Edmonton he moved his family to Rocky Mountain House in 1964 to become Superintendent of the Rocky Clearwater Forest. He really loved his work, especially when he could get out of the office into the “bush”. One of the main reasons Fred stayed in Rocky was the amazing people he had to work with. He retired in 1986.
With their fantastic group of friends, Fred and Marg loved the outdoors in all seasons be it backpacking, fishing, canoeing or skiing. The mountain lakes were favorite destinations. Fred and Marg also travelled extensively to Mexico, Europe, South America and the Middle East. A lot of their most interesting times were spent over food, drink and conversation with friends.
Fred is survived by his sister Alma Richardson; his daughter Joan (Hugh Norris); sons Tom (Cathy) and Jim (Laurie) and grandchildren David, Michael (Alanna), Tamara, Scott, Stephen and Jason. Fred was predeceased by his wife Margaret and his sister Kathleen
A gathering of friends and family will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion #8, on Monday, January 28, 2019 to celebrate Fred’s life. Cremation has been entrusted to Rocky Mountain Crematorium, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.