Description
Dambusters cover signed by 617 Squadron veteran Douglas Webb DFM who was front gunner in Townsend’s crew on the legendary Dams Raid
Douglas Webb DFM (12 September 1922 – 8 December 1996) was a British photographer who worked in the film and television industries. He was also a veteran of the Dam Busters raid.
Webb was born in Leytonstone, London. Before the war he worked for Ilford and then as a printer with the London News Agency in Fleet Street. During World War II he served with the Royal Air Force as an air gunner with No. 49 Squadron and No. 617 Squadron. Douglas was front gunner with the crew of the Avro Lancaster AJ'O' for Orange, piloted by William Townsend, which took part in the Dam Busters Raid.
Webb was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his part in the operation. Five of the crew were also given medals, making them the second most decorated Dams Raid crew after Guy Gibson's. Douglas also flew on 617 Squadron's last wartime operation, an attack on Hitler's mountain lair. He was one of only two men to fly on the squadron's first and last wartime operations. Webb sold his Distinguished Flying Medal, along with his logbook on 14 March 1989 at Christie's in London
