SPAFFORD, Frederick Michael (BURKE)
Family Information
Name: Frederick Michael SPAFFORD (Burke)
Nickname: Fred, Spam Born: 16/6/1918, Adelaide, South Australia Baptised: ? Engaged: 26/5/1941 Died: 16/9/1943 Killed In Action Buried: ? Spouse: Jean B RANDALL Father: James Michael BURKE Mother: Vida Muriel SPAFFORD Siblings: - Children: - Photos
F.M Spafford (centre) debriefing after Dambusters Raid Link
F.M. Spafford with the Duchess of Kent, 30/3/1943 link F.M. Spafford outside Buckingham Palace, 22/6/1943 link F.M. Spafford outside Buckingham Palace, 22/6/1943 link F.M. Spafford and flight crew, colour, July 1943 link Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire - Dambusters Memorial link |
Biography
Born Frederick Michael BURKE, Fred's father died in 1923, and his mother in 1926. He was adopted by Frederick Blaker SPAFFORD, his maternal Grandfather on 19/9/1929, and took the Spafford name.
He initially worked as a fitter. Following the death of F. B. Spafford in 25/3/1940, he lived with his maternal uncle, Walter John SPAFFORD. Fred joined the Air Force, and was a part of the Dambusters Squadron. He was awarded both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Flying Medal. He was reported "Missing In Action" in September 1943. Nigel Stock plays "Spam" in the 1955 film The Dambusters. Newspaper Articles
The Mail, 31 October 1942 - Bombing The Milan Train Station
The Advertiser, 28 May 1943 - Awarded the DFC Australian Womens Weekly, 12 June 1943 - Breaching the Dams Canberra Times, 10 September 1943 - Breaching the Dams The Advertiser, 1 October 1943 - Missing in Action Web Links
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