On 16 May 2025, the anniversary of the famous Dambuster Raid, Amesbury School proudly unveils a new plaque to honour the service of former pupil, Melvin ‘Dinghy’ Young.

Melvin attended Amesbury in the late 1920s. Whilst at school, he wasn’t particularly brilliant at football/rugby/cricket – but he did go on to be in the Oxford boat in the 1938 Boat Race, and win. He voluntarily entered a new interschool spelling competition, getting 64 out of 100 words correct. People who new him said he worked hard and had a good sense of humour.

In May 1943, he was one of the top three bomber pilots involved in the Dambuster Raid -only these three men knew of the mission even just the day before the squadron flew. This is how important he was considered.  He only flew a Lancaster bomber for the first time two months before the mission. His nickname was ‘Dinghy’ because he had ditched into the sea twice before, including 22 hours spent drifting with his crew in the Atlantic, before being picked up by a ship. His crew AJ-A (Apple) was shot down over the Dutch coast after their successful raid, just 20 minutes flight from home.

Earlier in May 2025 the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight honoured Dinghy by flying a Lancaster Bomber three times over Amesbury School.  They made the flyby on their return to Lincolnshire following the VE80th Anniversary celebrations in London. A moment in history the children will never forget.