Tyler, Eric Douglas, 1917-1941

Person

Tyler, Eric Douglas, 1917-1941

1917-1941

Tyler, Eric Douglas, son of Henry Herbert Tyler, shoe factor, of Leicester, and Agnes Cleopatra, d. of Frederic Sharpe of Sileby, Leics.; b. 30 Mar. 1917; adm. Jan. 1931 (B); left Dec. 1934; dyeing industry; Flt Sgt RAF Bomber Command, killed in action over Germany 8 July 1941.

Eric Douglas Tyler was born at Leicester, Leicestershire on the 30th of March 1917 the son of Henry Herbert Tyler, a shoe factory manager and company director, and Agnes Cleopatra (nee Sharpe) Tyler of “High Barn”, The Broadway, Stoughton Drive, South Oadby in Leicestershire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from January 1931 to December 1934. On leaving school he worked in the dyeing industry. He was serving a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the outbreak of war and was later promoted to Flight Sergeant.
On the night of the 12th/13th of May 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 42 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 17 Whitley and 4 Manchesters for an operation on Mannheim and Ludwigshaven. It is thought that only 10 aircraft from the attacking force had bombed the two targets with damage being light. 5 people were killed on the ground during the raid with a further 3 injured. 26 aircraft reported that they had bombed alternative targets with Cologne reporting industrial buildings and an army barracks being hit with the death of 92 soldiers at the barracks.
Eric Tyler and his crew took off from RAF Waddington at 10pm on the 12th of May 1941 in Hampden Mk I X2982 KM - for the operation. Having completed their mission they were returning to base the aircraft was diverted to another airfield to the north. During this leg of their journey the aircraft ran out of fuel and the crew were forced to bail out. The aircraft crashed at 6.52am close to Catterick Bridge.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Eric Douglas Tyler (Pilot) (Killed in action 8th July 1941)
Sergeant Charles Forrest Greig (2nd Pilot) (Killed on active service 19th June 1941)
Sergeant Kenneth George Betts (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Killed in action 8th July 1941)
Sergeant Campbell (Wireless Operator)
On the night of the 8th/9th of July 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 45 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys for an operation on the railway marshalling yards at Hamm. In the event only 31 aircraft reported to have bombed the target.
Eric Tyler and his crew took off from RAF Waddington at 10pm on the 8th of July 1941 in Hampden Mk I AE153 KM- for the operation. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after takeoff and it is thought to have crashed into the sea with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Foster Wilson Black (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Eric Douglas Tyler (Pilot)
Sergeant Mortimer Livis RCAF (Observer)
Sergeant Kenneth George Betts (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of seven aircraft which were lost during the operation.
Foster Black’s body found in the sea by the German Patrol Boat 1207 on the 18th of August 1941 and was recovered. After identification, it was recommitted to the sea with full military honours.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 37.

Flight Sergeant 745186; 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force

GB 2014

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition

Final

Full

Prepared for import into AtoM by Westminster School Archive staff, 2019-2020. Updated by Bethany Duck, Archives Assistant, September 2022.

The Record of Old Westminsters: A biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster School from Play 1919 to Election 1989, Volume 4, compiled by F.E. Pagan and H.E. Pagan, Padstow, 1992.

Westminster School Second World War Memorial by John C. Hamblin, 2022.