Avro Lancaster DV382
1.0 miles away
West Sussex
Upwaltham Lancaster Memorial
Upwaltham, Sussex
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
It is maintained by Upwaltham Parish Meeting.
Type
Memorial stone (Lancaster flyover conducted at dedication)
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Upwaltham, Sussex, Sussex
what3words: ///rewrites.lace.rocked
What Happened
Lancaster DV382, coded KC-J and assigned to 617 Squadron, was on an operation when it crashed near Upwaltham in Sussex on 13 February 1944. All eight crew members were killed. Among those lost was John Pulford, a veteran of 617 Squadron's Dambuster raids of the previous year. Flight Sergeant John Paul Riches, the aircraft's air gunner, was 22 years old at the time of his death. Charles Whitworth and Gus Walker also died in the crash. No one aboard survived.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
An annual commemorative service is held on September 2.
Lancaster flyover(September 2, 2009)
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster made three circuits of the church.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Apres moi le delugeAircraft Type
Lancaster
Serial Number
DV382
Squadron
617 (Dambuster) Squadron
Date of Loss
1944-02-13
Crew (3 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Upwaltham Parish Meeting
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Chichester Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Upwaltham Parish Meetingparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
Aircrew RememberedRetrieved 2026-03-24
Detailed crew page for Lancaster DV382 (KC-J) of 617 Squadron. The aircraft took off at 08:20 on 12 February 1944 from RAF Ford, where it had landed after an operation against the Antheor Viaduct in southern France. Within five minutes, in low cloud, the Lancaster flew into trees at the top of Littleton Down.
What you'll find: Detailed crew page for Lancaster DV382 (KC-J) of 617 Squadron's historic mission.
Crew: S/L William R. Suggitt DFC (Pilot, died of injuries 15 Feb at St Richard's Hospital Chichester), F/S John Pulford DFM (Flight Engineer, Dambuster veteran who flew with W/C Gibson on the Dams Raid May 1943), F/O J.I. Gordon DFC (Navigator), F/O N.J. Davidson (Bomb Aimer), F/O S.G. Hall (WOp/AG), F/S J.P. Riches (Mid Upper AG), F/O J.M. Dempster DFM (Rear AG), S/L T.W. Lloyd DSO (Passenger).
IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23
Imperial War Museums register entry for the Lancaster DV382 crash memorial at Upwaltham, Sussex. Catalogued as memorial reference 106342.
What you'll find: The poignant Lancaster DV382 crash memorial at Upwaltham, Sussex in this Imperial War Museums Register entry.
Formally registered memorial in the IWM national war memorials database. Memorial stone at the crash site on Littleton Down.
Dambusters BlogRetrieved 2026-03-23
Account of the memorial dedication at Upwaltham where a Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed a flyover. The tiny hamlet of 25 inhabitants raised over 10,500 pounds for the memorial stone.
What you'll find: Witness dedication ceremony and impressive Lancaster flyover at Upwaltham's memorial site.
The hamlet of Upwaltham (population 25) fundraised for the memorial. BBMF Lancaster flyover conducted at the dedication ceremony. F/S Pulford's DFM was gazetted 28 May 1943 for his role in the Dams Raid.
Traces of WarRetrieved 2026-03-23
International war sites database entry for the Lancaster DV382 crash site at Upwaltham, documenting the 617 Squadron loss and the memorial location on the South Downs.
What you'll find: Explore the Lancaster DV382 crash site at Upwaltham and its poignant memorial in this Traces of War entry.
Aircraft code KC-J. The crash occurred while departing RAF Ford after an operational landing. S/L Lloyd DSO was a passenger, bringing the total aboard to eight.
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Aircrew Remembered (retrieved 2026-03-24)
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Dambusters Blog (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Traces of War (retrieved 2026-03-23)
IWM (memorial/106342); Dambusters Blog (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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