Comments on the Lancaster records
The database below is the result of efforts by numerous people. Ian Wallace should rightly receive credit for it’s first iteration and it was this document that Ian so generously contributed to the blog a number of years ago, together with what also forms the core of the database(s) for the Wellington and Stirling sections. Chris Newey has since picked up the challenge of making sense of these serial codes and associated Flight and specific letter designators.
The completion of the Form 541 database has significantly assisted this database section – allowing for the first time ever the opportunity to review each individual aircraft regarding its complete Op history.
The database allows the generation of additional information, again for the first time. Where applicable, the aircraft’s number of Ops and Operational flying hours will be listed. If the a/c flew post-War sorties, such as food dropping repatriation of P.o.W’s etc, this cumulative figure is shown in brackets – I am aware of the stated claim that post War sorties were only worth fractions of a Wartime Operation but for the sake of clarity they are identified with value of ‘1’.
To the same end, Operational flying hours are based on hours logged based on the take off and landing time of an individual aircraft. Thus, even if an a/c did not complete an Op (and therefore fail to record an Op to its tally), from an airframe perspective the hours obviously still stand.
In most circumstances where an aircraft is lost, a time, (approximate or exact) rarely exists – whilst air hours were added prior to loss, these are not counted, as I suspect they would not have been at the time. In rare cases where a loss was witnessed and a time noted, this in time will be added, but as an exception rather than the norm, the total will be identified as such.
Air Ministry Form 78 was used to record the allocation of an aircraft to units, and the dates on which damage was sustained and repaired. In most cases an air hours total is recorded on this form and in most cases as outlined above, there will be a discrepancy between this ‘official’ figure and the figure based on Operational hours.
In time and with the aid of the extensive collection of logbooks we are gathering, it might indeed be possible to add to the overall total of flight hours by adding flight tests etc, however this is a project for a later stage, time and place.
Where it is known, or anecdotally referred to an aircraft’s ‘name’ and if it existed, nose art is also listed and described. It should be noted that in some cases a disambiguation is required between a ‘named’ aircraft and the name an aircraft might have been referred to as. Each aircraft carried a single letter designator and these were often used by way of the phonetic alphabet of the period to be referred to as. As an example, NE181 is widely known as “The Captains Fancy”. As a ‘C’ Flight aircraft with designator ‘M’, (JN-M), “The Captains Fancy” is also known as ‘Mike’. In “Luck and a Lancaster” by Harry Yates, extensive use is made of this style of naming, but this (in most cases) does not mean this was the aircrafts ‘name’.
Where an individual aircraft has an Operational history with the Squadron, a link will take you to a dedicated page that lists that aircraft’s recorded Operational history, including the name of the Pilot and any additional notes relating to events or occurrences relating to specific raids. The Form 78 is also included where it exists as is a photograph of the aircraft.
By way of ‘thinking out loud’, research notes, corrections/ contradictions etc are also included per aircraft, again to try to offer an audit trail regarding the final decision or remaining question regarding a detail relating to an aircraft.
We have also made use of information from other sources, which exist below with a key to the abbreviations used in the notes for each aircraft.
Several sources often list a particular aircraft with a code of “AA” but which was in actual fact a C Flight aircraft, with a code of “JN” as later shown by photos or logbooks, etc. These errors are usually consistent with the same data recorded in works like e.g. ADF Serials or 3GBC History and so we believe they are all originally from the same source (but don’t think ORBs?).
We believe, at times, recorders have just assumed a 75(NZ) Sqn machine to be AA (esp. if researching across multiple squadrons) and not gone into the detail of the extra ‘C’ flight.
The problem of perpetuation of errors becomes considerably more acute when one considers the matter of individual designators for aircraft. The problem is further compounded by the known errors in the Squadron’s Form 541 ‘Diary of Work Carried Out’. Aircraft serial codes are duplicated within a single Op, mis-typed or are completely erroneous. In order to try to contextualise these errors, these ‘wrong codes’ are also listed to allow a researcher to find it and know it to be wrong – these ‘phantom’ aircraft are highlighted by being shown in grey as opposed to the body text black of the main record.
Key
3GBC = 3 Group Bomber Command, an Operational Record, by Chris Ward & Steve Smith, 2008, Barnsley, Pen & Sword Aviation
AH75S = “A History of No 75 Squadron, RAF/ RNZAF 1916-1919 1939-1945 1946-2001”, 75 Squadron Association of New Zealand, Editor Stewart Boys.
ADF Serials = New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History, Avro Lancaster Mk I/I/III, 75 (NZ) Squadron, at http://www.adf-serials.com.au/
Bombing Colours = Bombing Colours: Royal Air Force Bombers, Their Markings and Operations, 1937-73, Michael J F Bowyer, 1973, Patrick Stephens Ltd
Bombs on Target = Bombs on Target: A Compelling Eye-Witness Account of Bomber Command Operations, Ron Mayhill, DFC, 1991, Patrick Stephens
Bomber Command Database = http://www.aircrewremembered.com website, Bomber Command Database, retrieved 4 Aug 2014. (Note: same errors/discrepancies noted as in ADF Serials and 3GBC, so data probably all from same source – where we know the code is incorrect eg from photos, etc) all 3 sources report same error.)
Chorley = Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Vols 1-9, by WR Chorley, Ian Allan Publishing
Forever Strong = Forever Strong: The story of 75 Squadron RNZAF, 1916-1990 (1991) by Norman Franks, Random Century
FYTomorrow = For Your Tomorrow: A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915, by Errol W Martyn. VOLPLANE PRESS
IWM = Retrieved from the Imperial War Museum by Chris Newey, 14 Sep 2013: Description – Catalogue number: Documents.22200 Production date 1945
Content description: Photocopy of a ts list (6pp) of Lancaster Bombers in service with No 75 Squadron (NZ), RAF, between March 1944 and October 1945, giving details of their numbers and eventual fate.
Kiwis Do Fly = KDF = Kiwis Do Fly: New Zealanders in RAF Bomber Command, by Peter Wheeler. 2010, New Zealand Bomber Command Association
Luck and a Lancaster = Luck and a Lancaster: Chance and Survival in World War II, by Harry Yates, DFC, 2005, Airlife Classics / The Crowood Press
W4174
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-S
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 15 Sqn, to 1654CU from IWM. In Lancaster, The Story Of A Famous Bomber, by Bruce Robertson, it lists W4174 as being with 207 Sqn, 1660 CU, 15 Sqn, 75 Sqn, 1654 CU and scrapped September 1946. It seem not to have flown any operations though with 75 squadron that I can find.
No record in Operational database
ED310
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From 15 Sqn to 1LFS from IWM
No record in Operational database
ED425
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 622 SQn to 5LFS from IWM
No record in Operational database
HK
Serial range HK535 – HK806 Lancaster Mk.1
200 Lancasters ordered form Vickers Armstrong (Castle Bromwich) as Mk.II in September 1941 and changed to Mk.III in February, 1943, but built as Mk.I from October 1943 to February 1945. Up to HK773 had Merlin 22 engines initially installed, and all subsequent Merlin 24. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
HK541
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived – date not known
Transferred – date not known
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – none
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – none
Notes of interest
Undertook no operations with 75 (NZ)Sqdn. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Survived the war and was modified by Avro for trials with long range (saddle) fuel tanks for use on Tiger Force (Far East).
HK544
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-?
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 13th of April 1944
Transferred/ Lost date not known
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – not known/ none
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – not known
Notes of interest
Undertook no operations with 75 (NZ)Sqdn. From 626 Sqn, to 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster 626 Sqn del’d 31-3-44 UM-?, 75 Sqn del’d 13-4-44 AA-?, 115 Sqn del’d unknown KO-U, SOC 1-11-44 – FTR Day Bonn Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
HK551
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-E
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 2nd of May 1944.
Transferred to 115 Squadron 15th of July 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – not known/ none
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – not known
Notes of interest
On squadron 2.5.44. JN-X from photo? JN-E from 3GBC.
(No evidence of it being flown Operationally from the database…..)
HK553
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-S
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 19th of May 1944
Lost on the 10th of June 1944 on an Op to Dreux. Of the seven members of the Donaghy crew, only one survived and evaded capture.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 6
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 23 hours and 5 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
HK554
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-F/ JN-Z/ JN-T
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 18th of May 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron on the 21st of July 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 71 (plus a further 6 post War sorties flown)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 351 hours and 19 minutes (377 hours and 25 minutes including post War sorties)
Notes of interest
On squadron 2.5.44, to 44 Sqn April 1945 (IWM). Destroyed FW190 on Stuttgart op 26.7.44. Lost both ailerons, the nav’s sextant and maps whilst taking violent evasive action over Russelheim 26.8.44. Recoded ‘Z’ by 23.11.44 from ORBs. JN-F (June-Dec 44) then JN-Z (Dec 44 – 14 March 45), is recorded as “T” in ORB entries for May 45, flown by C Flight crews on supply drops over the Netherlands – from the ORB’s (Newey). Total op’s = 72, plus 2 Operation Manna supply drops over the Netherlands, plus 3 POW repatriation flights from Juvincourt in May 45 – from the ORB’s (Newey).
View full Operational history here.
HK556
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 24th of May 1944
Transferred to 115 Squadron 24th of May 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – none
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – none
Notes of interest
Undertook no operations with 75 (NZ)Sqdn. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. 75 Sqn del’d 24-5-44 AA-?, 115 Sqn del’d 24-5-44 A4-F, SOC 27-8-44 – FTR Night Kiel Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
HK557
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived not known. First Op 31st of May 1944 to Trappes with Wisker crew.
Last Op on 18th of August to Bremen with Yates crew. Holed by flak 64 times. Written off after returning safely to base on 3 engines (stbd outer caught fire).
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 4.
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 17 hours and 25 minutes
Notes of interest
Joined Sqn 18.8.44, new from MU and replaced ‘P’ lost when flown by P/O Mulcahy. Flew only one mission to Bremen 18.8.44 with Harry Yates and crew. Hit by flak several times and written off after returning safely to base on 3 engines (stbd outer caught fire). 64 holes counted by Harry Yates, ‘Luck and a Lancaster’. To 5MU from IWM.
Database contradicts the single Op history above, ORB first recording HK557 on the 31st of May and identifying the aircraft twice more on Ops before its final op on the 18th of August 1944.
Given the apparent 2 month gap between HK557’s third and fourth Op, its highly likely that the first 3 Ops are erroneously attributed to this a/c and that the accuracy of Harry Yate’s recollections as this a/c being new, being air tested and then flown on its single Op adds credence to this possibility.
HK557 was then transferred to No. 5 Maintenance Unit before being repaired and employed in experimental flights to develop techniques and technologies related to airborne refuelling.
View full Operational history here.
HK558
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-D
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 2nd of June 1944
Lost on the 30th of July on Op to Amaye Sur Seulles. All of the Nairne crew were killed. Only the body of the Air Bomber was recovered, whose body was buried immediately at sea.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 21
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 81 hours and 38 minutes
Notes of interest
Code from FYTomorrow. AA-D from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
HK561
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-Y
Name/ nose art: “Liefy”
Arrived 14th of June 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron 20th of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 46 (56 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 230 hours and 13 minutes (269 hours and 23 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
HK561 – Letter from Mallon crew Navigator Jim Haworth dated 6.4.45 (http://robertalfredjay.blogspot.co.uk/”Our new kite, or one we share with another crew, is named ‘Liefy’. It’s done quite a few trips too but is much faster than old ‘Love’ which Bill had to thrash to keep up speed with the load up.” And his letter dated 16.4.45 (referring to the Potsdam op’ of 14/15.4.45), “We were lucky to get away at all as ‘Liefy’ was having some work done on her & we took off ten minutes after the others had set course.” From the ORB’s, the Mallon crew flew HK561 ‘Y’ on this op’, and a previous op’ to Kiel.
Database seems to show a high level of confusion regarding the exact identity of both Flight and designator letters for this a/c – requires further research.
View full Operational history here.
HK562
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-L/ AA-C
Name/ nose art: “Lucy”/ “Love”
Arrived 13th of June 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron 21st of July 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 99 (108 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 484 hours and 18 minutes (529 hours and 11 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On sqn June 1944, 44 Sqn July 1945 from IWM. Hit by flak. Details from ORBs. Coded AA-X from Bombs on Target on 24.7 and 30.6.44. AA-L from John Dickinson logbook, 4.12.44 and 21.12.44. Code from Simon Sommerville site L on 12-12-44. JN-Y/JN-L from 3GBC, C in hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Page 289.
HK562 – AA-L from Gordon Ford logbook 5.9.44. Letter from Mallon crew Navigator Jim Haworth dated 28.3.45 (http://robertalfredjay.blogspot.co.uk/), referring to the Hamm op’, 27.3.45), “The old kite we have been flying in ‘L for Love’ has now done ninety nine ops and is due to be pensioned off after the next one.” And again mentioned in his letter dated 6 April, “Did I mention that our kite had only one more trip, its 100th, to do before being pensioned off? Well, they made up the hours with local flying, so we had the last trip in her, the one where we lost an engine over the target. Our new kite, or one we share with another crew, is named ‘Liefy’. It’s done quite a few trips too but is much faster than old ‘Love’ which Bill had to thrash to keep up speed with the load up.”
AA-L from AIR14/3463
View full Operational history here.
HK563
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-W/ JN-Y/ JN-U
Name/ nose art: “Paper Doll”
Arrived 17th of June 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron, 21st of July 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 88 (94 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 436 hours and 23 minutes (465 hours and 11 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On sqn June 1944, 44 Sqn July 1945 from IWM. Named “Paper Doll” from p.233 Luck and a Lancaster by Harry Yates DFC, Paper Doll code W Willie from Forever Strong p135. , cross-referenced with ORB entry for Blewitt crew, 31 December 44, op’ to Vohwinkel. JN-W confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. Possibly ‘AA’ from S.Galloway log book? From the ORB, 1 Jan 45, HK563 “Y” is supported by Gerry Newey logbook entry “JN-Y”. JN-Y from 3GBC. ‘U’ hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Page 289. JN-W from AIR14/3463
View full Operational history here.
HK564
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Lost on the 12th of August on an Op to Russelheim. All of the Mulcahy crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 15
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 61 hours and 20 minutes
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn Aug 1944, flew74 hrs, from IWM. Shot down target Russelsheim 25.8.44. AA-P from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
There seems to be some discrepancy between the Form 78 regarding the transfer of this a/c from 115 Squadron and its first Operation with 75(NZ) Squadron.
ORB records Yates crew flying HK564 6 days after it was lost – clearly a clerical error – the aircraft was actually HK557, the AA-P that replaced HK564.
View full Operational history here.
HK565
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-C
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn May 1944, to 115 Sqn from IWM. JN-C from 3GBC.
No record in Operational database
HK567
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-C
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 27th of June 1944
Lost on the 7th of August Op to MAre De Magne. Two of the Brunton crew were killed, one was captured and the remaining 4 all successfully evaded and returned to the United Kingdom.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 14
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 57 hours and 26 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn June 1944, flew 68 hrs, from IWM.Shot down target Mare De Magne 7.8.44. AA-C from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
Lancaster Mk.I HK567 AA – C crashed in the target area, having been attacked by a JU.88. The crew were unable to extinguish the starboard outer engine which had been set alight as a result of the attack. At his point, F/O Brunton, the Pilot, gave the order to abandon the aircraft.
The two RAF Air Gunners did not survive the crash and were buried in the St-Valery-en-Caux Cemetery. All the remaining five crew survived and 4 successfully evaded capture.
View full Operational history here.
HK568
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-K/ JN-E
Name/ nose art:
Arrived on the 27th of Jume 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 24th of July 1944 on the Stuttgart Op. All of the Whitehouse crew were killed
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 8
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 29 hours and 6 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn June 1944, flew 41 hrs from IWM. Damaged ME410 on Homberg op 21.7.44, shot down target Stuttgart 24.7.44. AA-K from 3GBC. AA-E from ADF Serials. From Brian Moriarty, son of Dave Moriarty, through Simon, the above a/c was AA-‘K-King’ on 18th July 1944 Cagny. We also had JN in there, not sure why? Code AA-K from Bomber Command database.
View full Operational history here.
HK569
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-Q
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 30th of June 1944
Lost on the 20th of July Op to Homberg. All of the Davidson crew were killed with the exception of the Air Bomber who was captured.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 6
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 21 hours
Notes of interest
On Sqn June 1944, flew 26 hrs, from IWM.Shot down target Homberg 20.7.44. AA-Q from 3GBC. AA-Q from http://www.cwfww2.com/index.php/forum/59-the-cf-tourist/323-kessel-memorial-to-hk569-of-75-nz-sqn
View full Operational history here.
HK573
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-H/ AA-H
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 1st of July 1944
Transferred to 46 M.U. 6th of June 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 67
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 315 hours and 6 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, to 46MU June 1945 from IWM. HK573 – JN-H (ALDR)*ALDR = Avro Lancaster Definitive Record (Holmes) ‘AA’ from Simon Sommerville. AA-H confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. JN-H from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
HK574
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-R
Name/ nose art: “Rio Rita”. A long haired woman in sun hat, bikini top, possibly a short skirt, or sarong (Harry Yates describes it as ‘Y’ fronts) and platform shoes.
Arrived 17th of July from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 8th of December 1944 when crew crash-landed in the RIver Orwell on return from Op on Mersburg oil refinery. All crew survived
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 49
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 235 hours and 15 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944 from IWM.Hit by flak, Kaman, 11.9.44. From ORBs. Nose art of ‘Rio Rita’. Bulged bomb bay and no H2S. See photos and Harry Yates’ book, Luck and a Lancaster. HK574 written thus. HK574 – AA-R from Gordon Ford logbook 6 and 8.9.44.
View full Operational history here.
HK575
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-O
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 18th of July 1944
Lost on the 24th of July 1944 Op to Stuttgart. All of the McRae crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 0 (lost on first Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 5 hours (Approval and pre-flight prior to first Op)
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, flew 5 hrs, from IWM.Shot down by nightfighter over France (near Chateau Salins), target Stuttgart 24.7.44. AA-O from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
HK576
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-G/ AA-L
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 19th of July 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron 21st of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 76
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 367 hours and 46 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, to 44 SQn July 1945 from IWM.From ORBs. Photo in Forever Strong. AA-G confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. JN-G from 3GBC. ‘L’ from hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Pp 286, 290
View full Operational history here.
HK582
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-L
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From the ORB’s Form 541 27.3.45 (Newey). (HK562?)
This serial is possibly a clerical typo/ error
HK586
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator:
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 19th of May 1944
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
5th of July 1944 Op to Watten with Moore crew is the only reference to this a/c in the Operational database.
Possibly a clerical typing error.
Possibly HK568? – erroneous Op makes this feasible and sits between Form 78 arrival and first actual recorded Op as HK568
HK590
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator:
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 19th of May 1944
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
3rd of August 1944 Op to L’Isle Adam with Johnson crew only example in database of this serial
HK593
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-H/ JN-H/ JN-X
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 24th of July 1944
Transferred to 46 M.U. 6th of June 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 64 (69 including 5 post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 228 hours and 2minutes (343 hours and 9 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, to 46MU from IWM.Details from ORBs. Photos show 40 operational markings on nose, along with a swastika – also over-painted codes AA-H seem visable behind JN-X. Listed as JN-X in ‘Bomber Sqns of the RAF’. Damaged unid on Russelheim op 26.8.44 (FS lists as HK953- error?) The IWM photo http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205218870 is of 75(NZ) Sqn RAF, Lancaster I, HK593, C Flight (JN-X). If it is dated 9 Feb1945, this a/c did not fly that night. But the ORB’s show it flew on the next raid of 13/14th on an attack against Dresden of 20 aircraft. Skipper was RNZAF F/O R. Flamank on that night. The aircraft survived the war and was scrapped in 1947 apparently. AA-H (23 Nov 44) JN-X (13/14 Feb, 7/8 Mar 45 – ) from ORB’s (Newey). JN-X from 3GBC. JN-X from AIR14/3463
View full Operational history here.
HK594
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-G
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 27th of July 1944
Lost on the 29th of August Op to Stettin. Only the Pilot, Douglas King survived.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 10
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 48 hours and 4 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, flew 65 hrs, from IWM.Shot down target Stettin 29.8.44. Code from FYTomorrow. AA-G from 3GBC and ADF Serials. I’m 100% that HK594 was AA because the model was made for a friend who is the Major of Sweden
and he has the full records of this aircraft, When he was young and during the war a Lancaster crashed only yards away from his his home and they hold alot of the remains of that Lanc’ including crew in the remains are the serial and code letters of HK594 AA * G.
Jake, you can pretty much assume that wherever you see LM594 in the ORB’s it is actually HK594. The other one, PB142 could be PB132 as Lars says. I’ll have a look and see if any other obvious contenders for PB142 pop up.
As Wayne and Lars have said, the ORB’s are riddled with errors. I have seen instances of two different crews flying the same aircraft serial number on the same op, but with slightly different take-off and landing times (as you’d expect). The obvious inference is that one of those serial numbers is incorrect, but which crew actually had that aircraft, and what aircraft did the other crew fly? There is a good summary of how the data in ORB’s gets ‘mangled’ in the “Researching this Book” chapter of “Ton-Up Lancs” by Norman Franks.
View full Operational history here.
HK595
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator:
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 19th of May 1944
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
6th of September 1944 Harqueboc Le Havre Op – Galletley crew is only apparent instance in database.
Possibly a clerical typographical error
HK596
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-O
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 29th of July 1944
Lost on the 21st of October 1944 Op to Flushing. All of the Johnson crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 34
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 151 hours and 47 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, flew 155 hrs, from IWM.Lost on op to Flushing 21 Oct 1944, crew killed. AA-O from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
HK597
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-P/AA-N
Name/ nose art: “Bad Penny IV”
Arrived 1st of August 1944
Transferred to 46 M.U. 6th of June 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 78 (84 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 397 hours and 55 minutes (426 hours and 1 minute including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944, to 46MU from IWM.From ORBs. Named “Bad Penny IV” from autographed Squadron Xmas 44 menu: https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/more-information-about-75nz-squadron-ground-crew-christmas-1944. JN-P (22 Aug 44 – 16 Jan 45), JN-P from combat report 16.1.45; AA-N (22, 28 Jan, 3, 22 Feb, 18, 22, 24 Apr 45) from logbooks and ORB’s (Newey). JN-P from combat report 16.1.45
View full Operational history here.
HK600
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-T/ AA-T/ AA-V/ AA-K
Name/ nose art: “Kiwi”. A styilised drawing of a kiwi bird, wings outstretched with RAF roundels on each wing.
Arrived 1st of August 1944
Transferred to 54 M.U. 6th of July 1945 and then to 44 Squadron, 21st of July 1945.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 59 (71 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 298 hours and 53 minutes (343 hours and 59 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944, to 44 Sqn April 1945 from IWM. AA-T (30 Sep 44) JN-V (21, 23 Oct 44), JN-K (4 Nov 44 – ) from ORB’s (Newey). JN-K confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. Alex Simpson’s regular, Rotol props fitted 10.1.45. Damaged by flak 2.3.45 after op to Cologne. Alex always refers to this acft as ‘AA-K’ not JN, possibly he was in A/B Flight at some point? He also mentioned he was C Flt commander or 2ic also. HK600 – AA-K, JN-D, JN-K (ALDR) (JN-K also recorded in ORB’s) and AA-T (Pilots log book). JN-D / JN-K from 3GBC. ORBS – Mana and Exodus flights – page 285 Sutherland JN-K
View full Operational history here.
HK601
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-D
Name/ nose art: “Dog”/ “Snifter” Thought to have had a cartoon of a dog – ‘Snifter’ – similar in style to the American Disney character ‘Pluto’ .
Arrived 4th of August 1944
Transferred to No. 10 M.U. 22nd of June 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 84
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 443 hours and 39 minutes
Notes of interest
Fitted for some Ops with a ventral turret.
On Sqn Aug 1944, to 10MU May 1945 from IWM. Hit by flak, target Meresburg, 4.4.45, probable JU88 on Stettin op 30.8.44. JN-D by 23.11.44 from ORBs. JN-D confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. JN-J / JN-D from 3GBC. Total op’s = 86, last on 13/14 Apr 45, Shaw, Kiel – from the ORB’s (Newey). Attack of Merseburg, by 21 aircraft, by 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF from RAF Mepal, 4/5 April 1945.
T/Off Mepal, 1832 hrs. Landed at Manston, 0202 hrs.
Order of battle Form 540, states that “… JN-D, was hit by flak before reaching the target. The Bomb Aimer (F/S Hooper) was burned, and the fires were extinguished by F/S Pauling, whilst the Flight Engineer (Sgt Williamson) apparently fell through the M.U.G. turret. Sgt Williamson was standing next to the pilot on the bombing run, when flak pierced the de-icing tank directly beneath him. He managed to move aft and grab a parachute before falling through a gun hatch opening. He evaded capture, was released by US troops and returned to England “.
F/O Wood flew the aircraft back to England. Wood and Pauling were awarded immediate DFC and DFM respectively.
From the ORB: Aircraft hit by flak in target area. Flak pierced de-icing tank causing fire which destroyed several leads including heating to A.S.I. Pilot and Air Bomber recieved slight burns. Flight Engineer believed fell through mid under gun turret. Bombs jettisioned 51 51N 11 03E from 19,000 feet at 22:30 hours. Landed at Manston.
Intriguingly, her hit and fire on the 4/5 April Leuna Merseburg op’ (Doug’s big night!) is recorded under “NOT DUE TO ENEMY ACTION”, with details given as “(AC) m/g fire (1y)”?!
The ORB’s and DFC citation refer to her being hit by flak before reaching the target. However, “M/G fire (1y)” means “machine gun fire, 1 x .303 calibre British bullet”!
Looking thru these lists, friendly fire damage is actually quite common, sometimes with “from Lanc”, or “From Hal.” added. Ref: Air 14:3463
This version from NEW ZEALANDERS WITH THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (VOL. II) CHAPTER 16 – THE LAST PHASE: Flying Officer Wood and his crew had an unenviable experience during the raid on Merseburg. Over the city their Lancaster was hit in the nose by flak and set on fire. Although some of his flying instruments were smashed and he was almost blinded by smoke, Wood managed to keep control, even when flames reached his seat and burnt his face and hands. The navigator, Flight Sergeant Pauling, fought his way through the flames to extinguish the bomb aimer’s burning clothing and then put out the fire with his bare hands. Pauling’s charts and logs were destroyed, but he worked out a course for the return flight and Wood flew the Lancaster back and made a safe landing. 85 Ops from Chris, ORBs.
View full Operational history here.
HK653
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator:
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived
Tranferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
16th of February 1945 Op to Wesel with Stevens crew is the only instance of this a/c in the Operational database
This is a clerical error in the ORB and is actually HK563
HK697
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 7th of November 1944
Transferred to 195 Squadron on the 12th of November 1944
Notes of interest
Probably undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 195 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster 75 Sqn del’d 7-11-44 AA-?, 195 Sqn del’d 12-11-44 A4-C, SOC 29-12-44 – FTR Day Witten 12-12-44 Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
HK751
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-E
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945 from 1667CU, crashed May 7th 1945 from IWM. From 3GBC. AA-E from ? (Newey)
No record in database of Operational activity – possibly a typo??
HK753
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-N
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 1st of July 1944
Transferred 4th of June 1945 to 46 Maintenance Unit. Struck off charge (breakdown) 14th of October 1946
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 1
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 3 hours and 45 minutes
Notes of interest
Database only shows one Op with the Plummer crew – 10th of September 1944 to Montvilliers.
This is most likely to be a typo -based on occurrences of HK573 and ME753 on Ops during this period the most likely identity of this a/c is actually ME753
HK792
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
HK806
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-B
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 24th of February 1945
Transferred to 44 Squadron 2nd of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –21 (31 including post-War sorties
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 129 hours and 31 minutes (166 hours and 2 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945 to 44 Sqn July 1945 from IWM. Photo. JN-B from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
HK976
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From ORB’s (Newey). HK697?
A clerical error – exceeds serial production code for this range
HK980
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-K
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From ORB’s (Newey). NF980? < unlikely, NF980 was lost on the same Op this a/c appears
Only 1 Op attributed to this serial – 30th of November 1944 Osterfeld, Simpson crew
A clerical error – exceeds serial production code for this range
JA903
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn from 44 Sqn, SOC Nov 1946 from IWM. From 3GBC.
No existence of aircraft in Operational database
JA968
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn March 1944, to 576 Sqn from IWM.
No existence of aircraft in Operational database
LL – LM
Serial Range LL617 – LM296
450 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft in April 1942 and delivered as 100 Mk.II with Hercules XVI engines and 350 Mk.I with Merlin 24 engines initially installed. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
LL864
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Probably undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Taken on charge by 115 Squadron in March 1944. FTR Chevreusse. Crashed Giverny Thursday June 8, 1944 at 00.15. At the time of her loss she had flown 107 hours.
LL865
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-?
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 15th of March 1944
Transferred to 463 Squadron 22nd of May 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 12
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 50 hours and 40 minutes
Notes of interest
On squadron 15.3.44 – 22.5.44. Transferred to 463 Sqn from IWM.
View full Operational history here.
LL866
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-W/ AA-S
Name/ nose art: “Swingtime”. The word ‘Swingtime prefaced with a treble clef, clearly a pun on the musical connotation of swingtime as well as the darker one of a the nose art – a gallows and noose with a body hanging from it, graphically in the style of the game ‘Hangman’.
Arrived 16th of March 1944
Lost on the 25th of August 1944 on an Op to Russelheim. All of the Barker crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 50
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 210 hours and 10 minutes
Notes of interest
Although know as “Sugar” from ‘Luck and a Lancaster’ by Harry Yates, a photograph actually shows the aircraft to be called ‘Swingtime’ with a noose graphic. The logbook of Douglas Trig, Rear Gunner with the Perfrement crew, records the exact date that LL866 changed form AA-W to AA-S and we must assume at the change to ‘S’ the aircraft took on the name – possibly attributing the nose art to the Perfrement crew.
View full Operational history here.
LL867
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived not known
Transferred to 115 Squadron 28th March 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – none
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – none
Notes of interest
Undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. LL867 was a Mk.1 and was delivered to 115 Sqdn ex-75Sqdn 28 Mar 44. LL867 undertook no operations with No.75Sqdn and was lost on return to base from its first operation with 115 Sqdn. When lost this aircraft had a total of 31 hours. – from Lost Bombers, http://www.flickriver.com/photos/43688219@N00/2495890018/ . One of two Lancasters shot down over Witchford airfield on the night of 19-4-44 by a Messerschmidt 410 intruder, crashed Ely, near Cambridge.
LL880
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 17th of March 1944
Transferred to 115 Squadron April 1944
Notes of interest
On squadron 17.3.44 – 26.8.44. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster 75 Sqn del’d 17-3-44 AA-?, 115 Sqn del’d 4-44 KO-D, SOC 10-10-44 – FTR Night Dortmund Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
No evidence of this a/c in the database – probably flew no Ops with the Squadron.
LL888
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-X/ JN-H
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn March 1944 from IWM.Shot down target Valenciennes 15.6.44. H code from Sommerville.
From Colin Burch, via Newey/Sommerville: “On my return to the Squadron after discharge from hospital l discovered that we were to fly Lancasters, and that our Flight, ‘C’ Flight, was the first to be converted. The new aircraft was equipped with the latest radar, H2S, which together with the Gee made navigation a lot easier. We chose the same aircraft call-sign letter, ‘X’, which seemed appropriate as it had served us admirably on the Stirling, the ‘C‘ Flight prefix letters JN remaining the same, A and B Flights prefix being ‘AA’ .’
In his first Lancaster logbook entry, 24.4.44, he has “LANCASTER HK593 JN-X”. However HK593 did not arrive at Mepal until July 44. Going by the different ink colours, I think the “HK593 JN-” bit was perhaps added at a later date. He has used single-letter codes in all his other entries, and “X” features from 24 April through to 11 June, only 4 days before she was shot down, consistently corresponding with ORB entries for LL888.
Incorrect attribution in ORB regarding 4 apparent Ops after Valenciennes – 21st of June Domleger (Fox)24th of June Rimeux (O’Callaghan), 27th of June Biennais (Andrew) and 30th of June Villers Bocage (Andrew)
First thought that these incorrect references post loss might have actually been LL866 should be discounted – in all 4 cases LL866 took part in these Ops as well.
View full Operational history here.
LL889
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Probably undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 15 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster 75 Sqn del’d 23-3-44 AA-?, 15 Sqn del’d 29-3-44 LS-L, LSB, SOC 19-6-44 – FTR Night 14-6-44 Le Havre Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
LL890
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Probably undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 15 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster 75 Sqn del’d 23-3-44 AA-?, 15 Sqn del’d 29-3-44 LS-T, SOC 9-7-44 – FTR Night 6-8-44 Wizernes Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
LL921
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-E
Name/ nose art:
Arrived from 115 Squadron on the 19th of April 1944
Lost on the 19th of July 1944 Op to Aulnoye. Lancaster Mk.I LL921 AA-E was brought down by a night fighter at Harveng (Hainaut), 3.5 miles South South East of Mons. The fighter had collided with the Lancaster during an attack from below, causing severe damage to the starboard wing and an uncontrollable fire in the outer engine. All crew baled out successfully on the Pilot’s orders while he managed to keep the aircraft relatively stable. It too then plunged into the ground, sadly killing the pilot. The enemy fighter also crashed nearby.
Of the six who landed safely, three were captured as POW’s while the other three successfully evaded capture.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 24 (lost on 25th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 92 hours and 23 minutes
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn, flew 158 hrs, from, IWM. Shot down target Aulnoye 19.7.44 coded as ‘E’ in Forever Strong, destroyed unid and damaged JU88 on Stuttgart op 29.7.44. AA-N Bombs on Target 2.7.44. Code is ‘E’ in FYTomorrow. AA-E from 3GBC and ADF Serials. AA-E from Bomber Command database.
Recorded twice in Form 541 for the 2nd of July Op to Beauvoir (both Aitken and Adoplh). The reference to the a/c being ‘N’ from “Bombs on Target” (see paragraph above) strongly suggests the Adolph crew therefore flew LL921 on this Op……
3 Ops post loss erroneously attributed to this aircraft – 18th of July to Cagny (Howell), 25th of July to Stuttgart (Barker) and 28th of July to Stuttgart (Drummond)
View full Operational history here.
LL942
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-C
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 23rd of April 1944
Blew up at Mepal on the 30th of June 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 21
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 73 hours and 14 minutes
Notes of interest
Flew 95 hrs from IWM. On squadron 23.4.44 – 30.6.44 Blew up at Mepal 30-6-44.
View full Operational history here.
LL945
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
To 15 Sdqn, from 3GBC. 8th June 1944 Lancaster LL945 crashed Gambais whilst serving with 15 Squadron.
No record in Operational database
LM104
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-Z/ JN-Z/ JN-K
Name/ nose art: “Jock’s Box” The longevity of this a/c name is not know beyond it’s association with Andy MacKenzie’s crew.
Arrived 19th of May 1944
Lost on the
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 33
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 137 hours and 2 minutes
Notes of interest
Flew 158 hrs from IWM. Shot down target Dortmund 6.10.44. Code AA-Z from Bomber Command database. Code from FYTomorrow. JN-K (Jun 44 – ) JN-Z (5, 6 Oct 44) AA-Z (- lost 6/7Oct 44) from ORB’s (Newey). AA-Z from 3GBC and ADF Serials. Likely JN from following: I’ve found out most of his flight details, and even though I can’t get hold of the sqn ORB’s for that time, I think I’ve got the ops, dates, and most of the aircraft serial numbers sorted. I’m wondering if you can help me with:
– Electronic copies of the original ORB’s,
– Pictures of any of the following Lancaster’s – HK563 (JN-W), HK600 (JN-K), HK601, LM104, NE181 (JN-M), ND981, ND911 (JN-V), ND917 (JN-O)
View full Operational history here.
LM265
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
Undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 514 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster 75 Sqn del’d 22-7-44 AA-? (Not Taken Up), 514 Sqn del’d 22-7-44 JI-E, SOC 15-8-44 – FTR Night 13-8-44 Rüsselsheim Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
LM266
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-A/ AA-F/ AA-J
Name/ nose art: “The Seven Sinners”. A foaming beer tankard on shield flanked by bomb & ?; lion and kangaroo; above banner with ‘Seven Sisters’ in ‘heraldic’ script.
Arrived 22nd of July 1944
Transferred returned to A.V. Row after the take-off crash of the 9th of May 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 78 (half of a post-War sortie additionally completed – aircraft crashed on take-off on return to Base. The crew returned in another aircraft)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 382 hours and 31 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, damaged three times, to 46MU Oct 1945 from IWM. The Seven Sinners. From ORBs: Destroyed unid acft on mining op 12.9.44. LM266: AA-A (28/29 July – 4 Nov 44; ref. ORB form 541, Bateman & Elmslie crew photos). AA-F (15 Nov 44 – 18 Mar 45 ref. ORB form 541, 23/11/44, and Battle Order for the Dortmund op’ 3/1/45). “J” (9 May 45 ORB form 541, POW repat. Juvincourt). AA-F from 3GBC. Destroyed unid acft on mining op 12.9.44. Named “Seven Sinners”, with nose art: foaming beer tankard on shield flanked by bomb & ?; lion and kangaroo; above banner with ‘Seven Sisters’ in ‘heraldic’ script, ref. Bateman & Elmslie crew photos, Forever Strong photo.
Seven Sinners, and the Bateman crew: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skew/4417816297/in/set-72157623582338770/
Now the Bateman crew’s a/c (AA-A) was LM266. (ORBs)
They flew her from mid-August 44 right up to 6 October 44, then Jim Elmslie’s crew flew her on 7 October!!
The Bateman crew flew her again on 14 Oct., the Barton crew flew her on 14/15 Oct., and then again on the 19/20 Oct.
So probably not her that the Elmslie crew crashed on take-off on the evening of 15th, unless the damage had only been minor.
But on the evidence of the photos (AA-A with no op’s marked, and AA-A with 27 op’s marked) I think we have proof that LM266 was AA-A during this period. And she was AA-A when the Elmslie crew flew her.
Johnny Bateman, his Navigator and Bomb Aimer were all Australian (hence the kangaroo), and the others were Brits (hence the Lion).
Seven Sinners was also the name of a 1940 movie starring Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne, so no doubt topical at the time.
The Forever Strong photo must have been taken just after she was named and decorated, as there are no op’s markings.
By the time the Elmslie crew’s photo was taken with her in October 44 (below), she had 27 op’s marked, so I figured there had to be a decent record of her in the ORB’s, going back to August 44 or thereabouts.
A quick scan of the ORB’s (Form 541′s) and there she was, LM266, the Bateman crew’s regular Lancaster from mid-August to early November, and the same a/c that the Elmslie crew flew on 7 October!
When we first looked at the Elmslie crew’s op’s, I had incorrectly assumed that LM266, as recorded in the ORB’s for 7 October, was AA-F (which she was re-coded to later in her life), but we have now confirmed that she was AA-A, from 28/29 July to 4 November 44.
Not only did the nose art help us solve the identity of the aircraft, it also allowed us to date the photos of Jim and crew in front of and underneath “Seven Sinners” – they would have been taken on the 7th of October 44, the day of their first op’ together, to Emmerich!
View full Operational history here.
LM268
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 23rd of July 1944
Lost on the 11th of September 1944 on a gardening Op in the Baltic Sea. Lancaster Mk.I LM268 AA-D was brought down at 00:15hrs by a night-fighter near the southern end of Sjælland Island, Denmark. The aircraft crashed onto a farmhouse near the township of Orslev, killing five members of the family. Only two of the crew, the Fight Engineer and Air Bomber, succeeded in baling out, the former evading capture and the latter, although badly hurt, was aided by locals and hospitalised before being turned over to the authorities. Of those in the crew who died, the Pilot and Rear Gunner were buried in the local Churchyard at Orslev while the other three were buried at the Svino Churchyard.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 16 (lost on 17th)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 87 hours and 59 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn July 1944, flew 102 hrs from IWM. Shot down mining-Baltic Sea 12.9.44. Code from FYTomorrow. AA from Newey. AA-D from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
LM276
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-S
Name/ nose art: “Sugar”
Arrived
Transferred
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 80 (92 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 407 hours and 22 minutes (450 hours and 35 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944, to 44 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. From ORBs, possibly AA. Confirmed AA-S “Sugar” in ‘Luck and a Lancaster’. AA-S confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. H2S fitted and had only flown 2 missions by 8.9.44 to Le Havre and Harquebec. Successor to LL866. Code confirmed from Simon Summerville site. AA-S from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
LM
Serial Range LM301 – LM756
350 Lancasters ordered from A.V. Roe (Yeadon) as Mk.III except for the first 10 as Mk.I (LM301 – 310), delivered from October 1942 to October 1944. Mk.I’s had Merlin 20 engines and Mk.III’s Merlin 38 engines initially installed. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
LM510
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
On Sqn March 1944, damaged on ops July 22 1944 from IWM. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC.
No record in Operational database
LM513
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Only one reference to this aircraft in the Operational database – 30th of June 1944 to Villers Bocage (Burt crew)
Clerical error?
LM544
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-J/ AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 21st of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Transferred to 514 Squadron 19th of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 102 (103 including a single post-War sortie)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 491 hours and 31 minutes (497 hours and 37 minutes including a single post-War sortie)
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn, to 138 Sqn and back to 75 Sqn, then to 514 Sqn from IWM. From ORBs. Hit by flak, Kiel, 26-8-44, damaged unidentified on mining op 30.12.44
AA-J confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. JN-D from 3GBC. JN-Y(J?) from Sommerville. ‘O’ from hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Page 287. – “J” from combat report 30.12.44
View full Operational history here.
LM592
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Only 1 occurrence in the Operational database – 21st of June 1944 to Domleger (W/C Leslie and crew)
Clearly a typo – I suspect, given the Pilot was Leslie that this was the first Op for LM593 (see below)
LM593
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-N
Name/ nose art: “Round Again Nan”
Arrived 2nd of June 1944
Lost on the 25th of August 1944 on Op to Russelheim. Lancaster Mk.I LM593 AA-N was brought down over Germany, crashing near Neunkirchen; 38 miles North West of the target. There were no survivors. All seven of the Flemming crew are now buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 28
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 118 hours and 13 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn June 1944 from IWM. Shot down target Russelsheim 25.8.44. AA codes from Bombs on Target 27.6.44. Recorded in Forever Strong as ‘Round Again Nan’ p128. AA-N from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
LM594
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From ORB’s (Newey) – likely error – HK594 or LM544?.
No record of this serial in the Operational database
LM625
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-H/U
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mid-July 1945 from 44 Sqn, transferred to 39MU from IWM. J. Hughes Navigator. Originally flew with 44 Sqn as KM-H, then 75 Sqn. Was named “Sky Floosie, but not sure if with 44 or 75 sqn. AA-U from Newey (?)
No record of Operational flights in the database
LM649
Lancaster I Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From 630 Sqn to 39MU from IWM.
No record of Operational flights in the database
LM655
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-U
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn mid-1945, SOC Sep 7 1945 from IWM. Serial/Codes from Sommerville.
No record of Operational flights in the database
LM700
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-B
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Serial/Codes from Sommerville.
No record of Operational flights in the database
LM726
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-S
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1945 from 514 Sqn, crashed April 14 1945 from IWM. Serial/Codes from Sommerville.
No record of Operational flights with Squadron – is this an error regarding LM728 (below) – arrival and damage dates appear the same.
LM728
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-R
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 30th of March 1945 from 514 Squadron.
Last recorded flight on the 7th of May with W/C Baigent, supply dropping to Delft – this seems at odds with the apparent crash landing reported the previous month….
The Form 78 seems to confirm serious damage after the Bad Oldesloe Op of the 24th of April, which must seriously question the identity of the a/c for the 3 later Supply Dropping Ops to Delft in the following month.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 3 (6 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 21 hours and 9 minutes (28 hours and 13 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
AA-R from 3GBC and ADF Serials. Crashed on landing at Mepal 14 Apr 45, from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
LM733
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-R
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 9th of December 1944 from 514 Squadron
Lost on the 21st of March 1944 on Op to Munster Viaduct.Brown crew. LM733 was bombing the target at Munster when it was seen to break into two sections and enter a downward spiral before crashing in flames among trees near Coesfeld at 13.30hrs. The cause of the catastrophic damage was thought to be a combination of flak damage and being struck by a bomb from another 3 Group aircraft flying above. Two crew, the pilot and air bomber, were killed and later buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. The other five crew parachuted to safety and were captured as P.o.W’s.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 29
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 173 hours and 36 minutes
Notes of interest
Shot down target Munster viaduct 21.3.45 Confirmed code from Simon Sommerville site. AA-R from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
LM735
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-R?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn Dec 1944 from 514 Sqn, crashed 21 March 1945 from IWM – I believe this is meant to be LM733.
Date of only recorded Op with Squadron tends to suggest this is a typo and is actually LM733 same ‘R’ designator strengthens this theory……..
LM740
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-B/ AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 23rd of September 1944
Lost on the 25th of march 1945 on Op to Kamen. All of the Klitscher crew survived the crash landing.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 50
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 275 hours and 1 minute
Notes of interest
On Sqn Sep 1944 from IWM. Lost on op to Kamen 25 Feb 1945, crew POW. From son Roger King, 8.8.08: My Father FO David King was Navigator on Ben Klitschers crew on the above Lanc. They were shot down on Feb 25th 1945 During a raid on Karmen. Ben must have been a good pilot because he brought the plane down with out any crew lost. The became POWs and ended up on the Mooseburg march. Confirmed code from Simon Sommerville site. AA-B confirmed in Battle Order and from Bomber Command database, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. AA-D / AA-B from 3GBC and AA-B from ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
LN104
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: JN-K
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Serial/Codes from Sommerville. This is almost certainly a typo and is actually LM104
ME
Serial Range ME295 – ME551
200 Lancasters ordered from A.V. Roe (Yeadon) in May 1942 and built as 44 Mk.I’s and 156 Mk.III’s as indicated from October 1944 to March 1945. Merlin 22 engines were fitted in Mk.I’s and in Mk.III’s Merlin 38 engines up to ME376 and Merlin 224 engines thereafter. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
ME321
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-N
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 4th of November 1944 from 32 M.U.
Lost on the 1st of January 1945 on Vohwinkel Op. All of the 8 members of the Newton crew were lost – 7 without trace.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 17 (lost on its 18th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 79 hours and 46 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944 from IWM. From ORBs. AA-N from John Dickinson logbook, 16.12.44. Shot down target Vohwinkel 1.1.45. AA-N from 3GBC and ADF Serials. H2S fitted from Luck and a Lancaster.
View full Operational history here.
ME351
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-K
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
Very likely to be a typo/ clerical error – most likely to be ME531
ME449
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-T
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
??-T (Feb 45 – ) likely mis-recording of NG449.
Only recorded instance is a single Op on the 9th of February to Hohenbudburg with the O’Malley crew
ME450
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-W
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 24th of January 1945
Lost on the 26th of February 1945 whilst preparing to land on return from Dortmund Op. The aircraft crashed near Chatteris Gas Works, killing all of the Thorpe crew, apart from the Wireless Operator and Rear Gunner. The Flight Engineer, whilst surviving the crash, died of his injuries the 2 days later.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 13 (crashed on return near airfield)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 73 hours and 52 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jan 1945 from IWM. Crashed on return at Chatteris, Cambrideshire, target Dortmund, 26.2.45. AA-W from 3GBC and ADF Serials. Code from FYTomorrow. From ‘Wings Over Cambridge”… dad did a couple in ME450 AA-W at the start of his tour – this a/c was lost on return 26th Feb on a daylight raid to Dortmund. Code confirmed from Simon Sommerville site. Photo.
View full Operational history here.
ME531
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-K
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 8 (20 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 73 hours and 47 minutes (128 hours and 53 minutes)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1945, transferred to 44 Sqn from IWM. K from ORB’s 27-3-45 (Newey). AA-K from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
ME550
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-K
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM. J.Hughes Navigator.
No record of aircraft flying Operationally with Squadron
ME
Serial Range ME554 – ME868
250 Lancasters Mk.I’s ordered from Metropolitan-Vickers in May 1942 and delivered from November 1943 to January 1944 with Merlin 22 engines initially installed up to ME639 and Merlin 24 engines from ME640 except for ME668-669 with Merlin 22 engines. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
ME562
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-L
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Serial/Codes from Sommerville.
No record of Operational flight with Squadron
ME623
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Converted M.III from SIU, to 582 Sqn from IWM. From ADF Serials.
No record of Operational flight with Squadron
ME682
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-E
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 625 Sqn transferred to 1662CU from IWM. AA-E from 3GBC.
No record of Operational flight with Squadron
ME689
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-Y
Name/ nose art:
Arrived March 1944
Lost on the 1st of May 1944. ME689 was shot down over France, crashing at St Arnault, 12miles South West of Poix-de-la- Somme. There were no survivors and all seven of the Sachtler crew were buried in a collective grave.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 7 (lost on 8th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 34 hours and 10 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1944, 66 hours from IWM. Shot down target Chamblee 1.5.44. AA-Y from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
ME690
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-Z
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 5th of March for A.V. Roe
Lost on the 22nd of May 1944 on Op to Dortmund. All of the Burke crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 12 (lost on 13th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 47 hours and 35 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1944, 193 hours from IWM. Shot down target Dortmund 22.5.44. AA-Z from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
ME691
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-R
Name/ nose art: ‘Organ Grinders Swing’. From a photograph showing a partial forward panel of ME691 after it crashed into a farmhouse.The visible lettering is “.. RGAN GRINDER’S SWING”, probably “Organ Grinder’s Swing”. This was a popular song of the 30s and 40s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_Grinder’s_Swing) and perhaps there is also a humorous reference to the place where the (street entertainer) organ grinder’s monkey sat, ie., the guy who is not really the boss at all.
Arrived 6th of March 1944 from A.V. Roe
Lost on the 20th of July Op to Homberg. Lancaster Mk.I ME691 AA-R was brought down by an enemy aircraft at 01:33hrs beside a road near Veghel (Noord Brabant), 4 miles South West of Uden. All but the Flight Engineer of the Whittington crew perished in the crash and were buried in the local War Cemetery, Uden. Sgt Gore, the Fight Engineer, survived but was taken as a P.o.W.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 35 (lost on 36th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 141 hours and 1 minute (this includes the a/c’s final partial Op based on a crash time of 1:33am)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1944, 214 hours from IWM. Shot down target Homberg 20.7.44. Code from Wings Over Cambridge 2011. AA-R from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
ME692
Lancaster Mk.?
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Probably undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Lancaster A.V. Roe & Co. Ltd., del’d c.3-44, 75 Sqn del’d 14-3-44 AA-?, 115 Sqn del’d 26-3-44 KO-G, A4-G, SOC 1-11-44 – FTR Night 16-10-44 Wilhelmshaven Unknown, from http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf.
No record of Operational flight with Squadron
ME702
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-Q
Name/ nose art: :“Queenie”
Arrived 25th of March 1944 from A.V. Roe
Lost on the 10th of June 1944 on the Dreux Op. Shortly after target, ME702, AA-Q was hit twice by flak, before breaking up in the air. All of the Bonisch crew was killed, except for Bernard ‘Bill’ Allen, the crew’s Mid Upper Gunner. From Bill Allen’s War Log, the following is his memory of this event:
“The bomb aimer directed the plane on to the target, and gave the words “bombs gone” to the skipper, to which the skipper replied “bomb doors closing”. No sooner had he got the words from his mouth than there was a terrific crash, me seat collapsed, my intercom went dead, I felt terrific pain in my left leg, and the aircraft was filled with flame and smoke. I scrambled for my parachute which was lying near the main entrance of the aircraft, up this end the smoke and flames were most dense. At first I couldn’t find my chute in the smoke, my eyes were running and sore, and the aircraft was swinging from side to side so that I fell to the floor and had to claw my way along by clutching at the hydraulic pipes along the sides of the fuselage. I got to my chute and hooked it on, simultaneously there was another crash, the plane gave a lurch and the next thing I knew I was sailing through space. I grabbed the rip cord and pulled it, the chute opened quite easily and I floated down to earth wondering what had happened, and listening to the second wave of Lanc’s bombing the target.”
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 8 (lost on 9th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 31 hours and 21 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1944, 58 hours from IWM. Shot down target Dreux 10.6.44. AA-Q from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
An erroneous Op after this aircraft was lost recorded in the Form 541 – 12th of June 1944 to Gelsenkirchen with the Brumwell crew.
View full Operational history here.
ME751
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-M
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 24th of June 1944 from 115 Squadron
Transferred 14th of June 1945 to 138 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 90 (91 including 1 post-War sortie)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 453 hours and 57 minutes (457 hours and 54 minutes including 1 post-War sortie)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jun 1944 from 115 Sqnm to 138 Sqn from IWM. Destroyed ME110 on Dortmund op 4.2.45, shot down 2 unid acft on Aulnoye op 19.7.44. Also ‘M’ on 26.8.44, Bombs on Target mentions flying this ‘Mike the second’ fitted with H2S 26/27.8.44. AA-P (2 Jan 45) from ORB’s (Newey).
View full Operational history here.
ME752
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA/JN-E/Z
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 5th of April 1944 from A.V. Roe
Lost on the 20th of July Op to Homberg. Lancaster Mk.I ME752 AA-E was brought down by a night-fighter at 01:15hrs at Heythuysen in the Dutch province of Limburg, 7 miles East of Weert. All of the Roche crew, except the Air Bomber and Mid-Upper Gunner, died in the crash and were first buried in the Heythuysen cemetery but are now lying in Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Sgt Armstrong, the RAF flight engineer, at 40 years of age was one of the oldest airmen killed on Bomber Command operations during 1944.
F/S Burgess survived and was captured as a POW. F/S McGee also survived and successfully evaded capture.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 26 (lost on 27th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 93 hours and 41 minutes (this is an estimate based on at this point a speculative disentanglement of multiple double recording of this a/c in 3 Ops – see below)
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn, 139 hours from IWM. Shot down target Homberg 20.7.44. Code from FYTomorrow. AA-Z from 3GBC and ADF Serials and from Bomber Command database. AA-E JN-Z from ORB’s (Newey).
Precise history for this aircraft appears very muddled – prior to its loss there are 3 double entires:
17th of July 1944 Varies – Moore crew (all aircraft recalled)
17th of July 1944 Varies – Roche crew (all aircraft recalled)
18th of July 1944 Aulnoye – Gibson crew
18th of July 1944 Aulnoye – Roche crew
18th of July 1944 Cagny – Roche crew
18th of July 1944 Cagny – Moore crew
It seems of the 3 crews, it was Gibson and Roche who have history with this aircraft as such, my feeling is that the Moore crew should be discounted. Whilst this possibly clarifies Varies and Cagny, both as Roche, Aulnoye will perhaps be impossible to attribute unless a logbook comes to light from either crews.
20th of July 1944 Homberg – Gibson crew
20th of July 1944 Homberg – Roche crew – crew lost
3 erroneous Ops recorded against this a/c after its loss on the Homberg Op of the 20th of July 1944:
24th of July 1944 Stuttgart Hubbard crew.
28th of July 1944 Stuttgart Adolph crew.
29th of July 1944 Stettin Plummer crew.
View full Operational history here.
ME753
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-N
Name/ nose art:
Arrived from 115 Squadron (date not known) 1st Op with Squadron 31st of August 1944 to Pont Reny with Ford crew
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 25
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 119 hours and 20 minutes
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn, to 1651CU Nov 1944 from IWM. From ORB’s 5-10-44 (Newey).
View full Operational history here.
ME754
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-A
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 21st of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Transferred 23rd of July 1944 to 54 M.U.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 11
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 39 hours and 8 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Apr 1944, transferred to 166 Sqn. From IWM. Flown by FO Fox and S.Galloway 7-5-44. AA-A from 3GBC. AA-A June 1944 from ORB’s (Newey).
View full Operational history here.
ME834
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
On squadron 6.6.44 – 28.7.44. To 115 Sqdn, from 3GBC. 17 August 1945: During Operation Dodge, the RAF airlift of troops home from Italian deployment, Avro Lancaster, ME834, coded ‘K-OG’, of 115 Squadron, based at RAF Graveley, struck HK798, coded ‘K-OH’, of the same squadron, and PB754, coded ‘TL-A’, of Graveley-based 35 Squadron when it swerves off runway while taking off from Bari, Italy – from Wikipedia.
No reference in Form 541 Operational database
ME836
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
On squadron 6.6.44, transferred to 115 Sqn from IWM. Undertook no operations with 75 Sqdn. To 115 Sdqn, from 3GBC. Joined No 115 in May or June 1944 (from No. 75 Squadron, but without any ops to its credit), and between 11/12th June, when it bombed Nantes and 24th April 1945, when it bombed Bad Oldesloe (using the G-H blind-bombing radar device with which it was then equipped), made 97 operational sorties. It made the first 37 as “A4-C” and the remainder – beginning 15th November 1944 – as “KO-S”. From http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h115.html
No reference in Form 541 Operational database
ND
Serial Range ND324 – NE181
600 Lancaster Mk.III bombers ordered from A.V. Roe (Chadderton) and delivered between December 1943 and May 1944 with Merlin 38 Engines. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
ND197
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: JN-O
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 2
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 10 hours and 55 minutes
Notes of interest
Possibly a typo……
10th of September 1944 Mont Villiers O’Callaghan
12th of September 1944 Frankfurt Waugh
ND491
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-A
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
J.Hughes Navigator.
View full Operational history here.
ND496
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ?/-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, SOC Oct 1945; also serial from IWM.
View full Operational history here.
ND579
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, SOC Spilsby 22 Oct 1945 from IWM. From http://www.nucleus.com/~ltwright/Lanc_100.htm as having completed 123 ops, first used by 44 Sqn KM-Y, then 75 Sqn.
Survived the war Scrapped 27 October 1945
View full Operational history here.
ND657
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-M
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
Shot down target Stuttgart 28.7.44. Photo from ‘Kiwis Do Fly’. Blance crew, on their fifth op’., shot by nightfighter, caught fire and crashed in France, 30 mins on way back from Stuttgart op’. Rear Gunner Winkie Kirk, “Bail Out”, p. 141, KDF.
No reference – Blance crew were lost in ND756 – on their 2nd Op as a crew
ND747
Squadron Designator: AA-T
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 13th of March 1944
Transferred to No. 3 L.F.S. 5th of November 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 64
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 293 hours and 3 minutes
Notes of interest
One of 11 aircraft to take part in the Squadron’s first Operation with Lancasters on the 9th of April 1944 to Villeneuve St. George.
View full Operational history here.
ND750
Squadron Designator: not known
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived not known – first Op 9th of Aprill 1944 to Villeneuve St. George.
Last Op – 10th of May 1944 to Courtrai.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 4
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 16 hours and 36 minutes
Notes of interest
Very little is known of this aircraft – perhaps because of its short stay with the Squadron. Harry Holmes (Avro Lancaster – The Definitive Record) does not record it as being with the Squadron and one must therefore assume there is no record on the Form 78 either……
View full Operational history here.
ND752
Squadron Designator: AA-O
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 13th of March 1944
Lost on the 20th of July 1944 during an Op to Homberg. Five of the Seven crew were killed, the other two being taken Prisoners of War
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 38
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 155 hours and 27 minutes
Notes of interest
One of 11 aircraft to take part in the Squadron’s first Operation with Lancasters on the 9th of April 1944 to Villeneuve St. George.
View full Operational history here.
ND753
Squadron Designator: AA-G
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived – not known. First Op on the 10th of May 1944 to Courtrai
Last Op with Squadron on the 25th of July 1944 to Stuttgart, Victor Adolph the Pilot
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 29
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 121 hours and 2 minutes
Notes of interest
Holmes records ND753 as going from 75(NZ) Squadron to 115 – however its subsequent date of loss with 115 appears to be 4 days before it left Mepal……
View full Operational history here.
ND756
Squadron Designator: AA-M
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived not known – 1st Op 10th of April 1944 (Laon/ Burton crew)
Lost 28th of July 1944 on the Stuttgart Op. Lancaster Mk.III ND756 AA-M was shot down in flames by a night-fighter over France, crashing at 01:25hrs close to Millery village, 3 miles North of Pompey. All but the Flight Engineer, Navigator and Rear Gunner of the Blance crew died and were buried at the Millery cemetery. The surviving three crew members had baled out of the burning aircraft successfully. Sgt Hyde (F/E) and F/S Kirk (R/G), evaded capture and escaped but F/S Grieg (Nav) was captured as prisoner of war. It was revealed that 1,500 local inhabitants of Millery Village turned out for the funeral of the four airmen who died. Two large rooms in the church were overflowing with flowers.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 38 (lost on 39th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 146 hours and 20 minutes
Notes of interest
Combat reported on the 7th of June 1944 against Massy Palaiseau (Perfrement crew)
View full Operational history here.
ND768
Squadron Designator: AA-F
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 23rd of March 1944
Lost on the 22nd of May Op to Dortmund. All crew killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 11
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 46 hours and 40 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND782
Squadron Designator: AA-U
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived – delivered 4.4.44 (flown in from Waterbeach by FAJ Scott crew, FAJ Scott logbook)
First Op with the Squadron on the 10th of April 1944 to Laon
Last Op with Squadron on the 18th of August 1944 to Bremen with the Cooper crew.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 46
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 186 hours and 30 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND796
Squadron Designator: AA-J
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 24th of March 1944
Lost on the 27th of April 1944 on an Op to Friedrickshafen. All of the Herron crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 4
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 13 hours and 45 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND800
Squadron Designator: AA-J
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 24th of June 1944 (Form 78 shows damage repair at 115 Squadron and date for return – one assumes this return was also a transfer to 75(NZ) Squadron)
Lost on the 20th of July Op to Homberg. the aircraft and all of the MacKay crew were lost without trace.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 5
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 26 hours and 57 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND801
Squadron Designator: JN-X
Name/ nose art: “Get Sum Inn” (What resembles a hanging pub sign)/ Astra (A white star, also with the word ‘Astra’ next to it)
Arrived – delivered 10.4.44 (flown in from Waterbeach by FAJ Scott crew, FAJ Scott logbook).
Damaged beyond repair after crashing into a local bakery on the perimeter of the airfield on return from Dortmund on the 2nd of February 1945. 5 members of the crew injured.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 87
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 388 hours and 1 minute
Notes of interest
to follow
View full Operational history here.
ND802
Squadron Designator: JN-D
Name/ nose art: “The Flying Scotsman” (artwork if any, unknown)
Arrived – delivered 8.4.44 (flown in from Waterbeach by FAJ Scott crew, FAJ Scott logbook).
Lost on the 27th of May 1944 on Op to Aachen. Three of the Scott crew were killed, the remaining 5 (included a 2nd Pilot) were captured as P.o.W’s
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 11
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 45 hours and 35 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND804
Squadron Designator:
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 24th of March 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost 21st of May 1944 on Op to Duisburg. ND804 was lost without trace. All of the Willis crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 4 (lost on 5th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 18 hours and 15 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND904
Squadron Designator: AA-B
Name/ nose art: “Target for Tomorrow Night”
Arrived 24th of June 1944 from 115 Squadron.
Lost 5th of October 1944 on Saarbrucken Op. ND904 collided with Lancaster PD344 from 115 RAF Squadron over Wolsfeld, Kreis Bitburg, North West of Trier, Germany. There were no survivors on either aircraft. All Galletly crew members were initially buried in the Wolsfeld Churchyard but later re-interred in the British Military cemetery, at Rheinberg (North West of Duisburg)
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 46 (lost on 47th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 197 hours and 18 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND908
Squadron Designator: AA-M
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 18th of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost 27th of May 1944 on the Aachen Op. Lancaster Mk.III ND908 AA-M was brought down at Poelkapelle (West-Vlaanderen) 5miles North East of Ypres and 25 miles West of Courtrai, scene of the FW.410 attacks on ND915 in the same raid. There were no survivors and all eight of the Fauvel crew members were laid to rest at Wevelgem Communal Cemetery.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 10 (lost on 11th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 63 hours and 20 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND911
Squadron Designator: JN-V
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 18th of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 20th of November Op to Homberg. Lancaster ND911 took off from Mepal, Cambridgeshire at 12:47 hrs, as part of 3 Group with a force of 183 Lancaster’s, to bomb Homberg (Oil Refinery Plant). Weather was stormy and many of the bomber stream were not able to maintain formation with the G-H (Radar aided aircraft) on the bombing run and the bombing was believed to have been scattered. The force met little resistance from Luftwaffe fighters, but suffered very heavy flak.
On the bomb run at about 15:00 hrs, the pilot was forced to lose height as the starboard outer engine failed and he decided to feather it. The aircraft was forced to leave the formation, however at 15:15 hrs they bombed the target. At 15:17 hrs they then received a direct hit in the port wing area from flak and is thought that the fuel tanks exploded. The Lancaster broke up in mid-air and a very violent spin developed. Flt Sgt Gray, the rear gunner, was knocked unconscious. When he came to the entire tail unit had broken away during the mid-air explosion and he was able to rotate the turret to enable him to bail out at 10,000 ft. He stated that he saw no other parachutes during his descent. During his parachute drop at around 2,000 ft. he was shot at by German ground troops but was not hit. F/S Gray was the only survivor of the McCartin crew.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 71 (lost on 72nd Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 308 hours and 1 minutes (includes a reported loss time of 15:17 – 2:34 flight time)
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND914
Squadron Designator: AA-H
Name/ nose art:
Arrived not known
Departed not known
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 6
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 24 hours and 4 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND915
Squadron Designator: AA-A
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 18th of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 20th og July 1944 on Op to Homburg. Lancaster Mk.III ND915 AA-A was brought down by an enemy night-fighter at 01:35hrs between Keldost (Noord-Brabant) and Erp, 3 miles South East of Veghel. Five of the seven crew died and two, the Navigator and Mid Upper Gunner, escaped uninjured to be taken as Prisoners of War. The RAF Rear Gunner, Sgt Stevenson, at 18 years of age was one of the youngest airmen killed while flying with Bomber Command during 1944.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 29 (lost on 30th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 109 hours and 51 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND917
Squadron Designator: JN-O
Name/ nose art:
Arrived No difinitive date given issues mentioned below in Form 78
Lost 4th of November 1944 on Soligen Op. Lancaster Mk.III ND917 JN-O was brought down by flak about 9 mile s South East of the target, crashing near Werrmelskirchen. None of the crew survived and they were buried at that small township, but later reinterred at Rheinberg War Cemetery, south of Wessel.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 68 (lost of 69th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 295 hours and 16 minutes
Notes of interest
The Form 78 for this aircraft only lists 115 Squadron. Even if we accept that all references to 117 Squadron actually are 75(NZ) Squadron, the F78 records its first arrival 4 days after its first recorded Op
View full Operational history here.
ND919
Squadron Designator: JN-V/ AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 23rd of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 11th of May 1944 Op to Louvain. ND919 exploded in flight and crashed at Castle Elderschans, about 1 mile West of Aardenburg, (Zeeland), Holland. The very brief circumstances suggest the fully armed aircraft probably came under attack by a night-fighter during the early stages of its outbound flight. There were no survivors of the Warren crew. All seven crew were buried in Aardenburg General Cemetery.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 1 (lost on 2nd Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 3 hours and 20 minutes
Notes of interest
–
View full Operational history here.
ND920
Squadron Designator: AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 18th of April 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 24th of June 1944 Op to Rimeux. Lancaster Mk.III ND920 AA-P was shot down by a German night-fighter near Fruges (Pas-de-Calais), 27 miles South East of Boulogne, probably while en route to attack a V1 flying-bomb site at Rimeaux. According to local eye witnesses of the crash, the plane exploded on impact, and buried itself in a deep crater, all the members of the Bateson crew being instantly killed, such remains as were recovered were buried by French civillians in Grave No.7 in the Fruges Communal Cemetery.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 20 (lost on 21st Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 78 hours and 47 minutes
Notes of interest
Aircraft was lost on the 24th of June 1944 on an Op to Rimeux, all of the Bateson crew were lost.
2 Ops after this loss listed in Form 541 as follows:
30th of June 1944 to Villers Bocage with O’Conner crew
2nd of July 1944 to Beauvoir with Barker crew
View full Operational history here.
ND980
Squadron Designator: JN-K
Name/ nose art:
Arrived not known
Departed/ Lost not known
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 1
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 7 hours and 5 minutes
Notes of interest
12th of September 1944 Op to Frankfurt with the Smith crew – almost definitely a typo
ND9747 – 4 digit code is obviously wrong – need to disambiguate either the first or the last digit
Squadron Designator:
Name/ nose art:
Arrived XX/XX/XXXX
Departed/ Lost xx/xx/xxxx
Number of OPs completed with Squadron – XXX
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – XXX
Notes of interest
xxxxxxxxxx
ND197?
This serial is an error – highly suspect it is ND974?
ND981
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: JN-Y
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Serial from Jim Smith email (see LM104). JN-Y from ORB’s (Newey).
No reference in Form 541 Operational database
NE148
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-H
Name/ nose art: “Hells Angel” A girl leaning against large vertical bomb
Arrived on the 20th of May 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 28th of July Op to Stuttgart. Lancaster Mk.III NE148 AA-H was one of the aircraft intercepted by night-fighters en route to the target. It was critically damaged by such an attack in which the Rear Gunner was killed; Mid Upper Gunner seriously injured, and one engine put out of action. The bomb load was jettisoned and the Captain initiated a return to base. He ultimately was unable to prevent the aircraft losing height and ordered the crew to bale out. Minutes later NE148 crashed close to the village of Yevres, a mile East of Brau. Both the Pilot and Rear Gunner, who died, were buried in the village cemetery. The remaining six who baled out, all successfully evaded capture.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 18 (Lost on 19th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 72 hours and 27 minutes
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn from IWM. Shot down target Stuttgart 28.7.44. Code from FYTomorrow. The regular Lancaster for the Stokes crew, and the one they were shot down in on 28/29 July 44, was NE148, AA-H. Peter Wheeler has just posted the attached photo on WONZ (Hell’s Angel), saying that the caption states “F/Lt Stokes’ kite”. Nose art “Hell’s Angel”, girl leaning against large vertical bomb. Peter got the photo from Joe Tomlin, a 75 “instrument basher”, presumably now living in NZ.
There was some confusion on WONZ forum, whereby this aircraft was thought to have Donald Duck nose-art: perhaps R5692 was also coded AA-H, prior to NE148 arriving, and that’s where the confusion has come from?
View full Operational history here.
NE181
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: JN-M
Name/ nose art: ‘Mike’/ “The Captains Fancy”. Cartoon character Captain Reilly-Foull from the Daily Mirror throwing darts/ bombs in one hand and holding a pint glass in the other. The name “Captains Fancy” was added after this first piece of artwork.
Arrived 20th of May 1944
Transferred to 514 Squadron 19th of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 101 (108 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 469 hours and 45 minutes (515 hours and 21 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
New ‘M’ (Captain’s Fancy) arrived 28.5.44, C Flt commander finished his tour on it 1.6.44, a sprog crew their tour 21.8.44, 94th op ?? on 1.1.45, end of war 101 ops, a few food drops over Holland and a couple of trips to Italy picking up POWs.- but later I am told by one of the ground crew still alive that they applied Graphite over it to reduce it’s ability to be seen by the Germans. Not scrubbed off or the like as some other people have been saying. From Wings Over Cambridge-Gents, The Captains Fancy, NE181, JN-M, was definitely a C Flight aircraft, and arrived at Mepal in May 1944. Its first Op was to Duiesburg on the 21st. The cartoon character Captain Reilly-Foull from the Daily Mirror was painted on the left hand side of the nose, and the name Captains Fancy added. Later graphite grease was used to smear over the majority of the figure to reduce its appearance from fighters!!
From Peter Wheeler’s “Kiwis Do Fly”, in “Its all Over” by Colin Emslie, “The Captains Fancy” NE181 JN-M, 75 (NZ) Sq C Flight, was “drawn to be the lead aircraft” on a G-H raid on her 104th and last mission on 24 April, 1945.He explains that after getting airborne they headed to an assembly area and formed up into five flights of four aircraft, each with “a leader for the day”. JN-M was the leader for formation no. 5 on this op’.
Squadron sets course for the target, arrive at target with flights of four in line astern, guided in by the navigator in the lead a/c. The other three a/c drop their bombs as the leader drops his.Squadron then breaks formation and a/c flew back to base individually. Twenty was a typical number of a/c put up by 75 Sq, going by the ORBs I’ve been looking at, so 5 G-H leaders in action on a particular day, and presumably others capable of filling the role?
There may be some question over the above description. There has been some discussion regarding the apparent lack of Op tally markings on NE181 after it’s 101st to Weisbaden on the 2nd of February with the Bailey crew.
Following under editing – details and order will change
It is clear from the Form 540 for this period that a new Lancaster, RF129 arrived at Mepal, its Form 78 showing the 10th of February as its arrival date.
At this point, NE181 showed an Ops tally of 101.
On the 16th of February the Bailey crew took part on an Op to Wesel. The Form 540 lists the a/c flown as RF129. The target photo confirms the crew flew in ‘M’. Tantalisingly – and problematically based on the absence of a 102nd tally on NE181, Jack Wall, the crew’s Air Bomber captioned this target photo as follows:
Wesel
Daylight
16.2.45.
20,000′
Aircraft “M”
(it was our 102nd operation for “M”)
Visual Bombing in formation – we led)
The question at this point has to be; if NE181 did fly Wesel, why was nothing added to its marked tally?
It is known that NE181 underwent a significant overhaul, Alex Simpson flying NE181 out from Mepal on the 17th of February 1945 – possibly in expectation of the successful lobbying to secure its future by having it flown back to New Zealand, celebrating its unique status as being the only bomber from a New Zealand Squadron to pass ‘the tonne’. Sadly, despite the Squadron’s best efforts to convince the New Zealand Government, the plan failed, pathetically in hindsight, owing to the cost of fuel for the flight home.
Fourteen days later on the 16th of February, a new Lancaster Mk.I – RF129, undertook its first Operation with the Squadron – its Flight and designator were JN-M.
After this first Op, RF129 flew another 27 Ops (1 being a dnc on the Cologne Op of the 2nd of March 1945), 4 food dropping sorties and a Prisoner repatriation. The 33rd sortie on the 10th of May to Juvincourt was the last that this aircraft flew as JN-M.
The next day, having returned to Squadron duties, NE181 once again flew as JN-M, flying Prisoners of War back from Juvincourt in France.
NE181 flew another 5 repatriation sorties from Juvincourt, the 6th and final returning Belgian refugees to Brussels and returning with P.oW’s
With the plan to return the aircraft to New Zealand dead in the water, NE181, on the 19th of July 1945 was transferred to 514 Squadron . Two days later the Squadron left Mepal, moving to RAF Spilsby in preparation for Tiger Force.
After next being transferred to No. 5 Maintenance Unit, NE181 JN-Mike ‘The Captains Fancy’ was scrapped on the 30th of September 1947.
View full Operational history here.
NF – NG
Serial RANGE NF906 – NG503
400 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (Baginton) and delivered from July 1944 to February 1945 mainly with Merlin 24 engines from Baginton and Bitteswell. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
NF280
Lancaster Mk.?
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From ORB’s Oct 44 (Newey).
No record in Operational database
NF741
Lancaster Mk.?
Squadron Designator: AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived not known
Transferred not known
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 2
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 14 hours and 19 minutes
Notes of interest
From ORB’s 4/5.4.45 (Newey).
View full Operational history here.
NF911
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-V
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 1
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 5 hours and 2 minutes
Notes of interest
A typo, as this aircraft appears only once in the records., flying the Dortmund Op on the 15th of November 1944 with the McCartin crew. Crew logs show this is in fact ND911
NF935
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 17th of September 1944
Transferred to 514 Squadron on the 20th of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 60 (72 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 317 hours and 26 minutes (377 hours and 55 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Sep 1944, to 514 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM.From ORBs. Hit by flak, target Bremen, 22.4.45, destroyed unid on Dortmund op 7.10.44. AA-P from 3GBC. NF935 – AA-P from Gordon Ford logbook 6.10.44. AA-P from AIR14/3463
View full Operational history here.
NF951
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived not known
Transferred not known
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 3
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 10 hours and 9 minutes
Notes of interest
AA-P from John Dickinson logbook, 27.9.44.
View full Operational history here.
NF980
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-F/K
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 30th of August 1944
Lost on the 30th of November 1944 on Op to Osterfeld. All of the McIntosh crew were killed – whislt the Rear Gunner survived the crash, he died 3 weeks later in hospital.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 26
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 99 hours and 43 minutes
Notes of interest
On sqn Aug 1944, damaged 30 Oct 1944 from IWM. ”JN’ from ORBs. (Check again). Shot down target Osterfeld 30.11.44. (Flown by H.Yates from Luck and a Lancaster.) AA-F or JN-F. JN-K on 7 Oct 44 from ORB’s (Newey). AA-F from 3GBC, from Bomber Command database and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
NF981
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-D/Y
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 30th of August 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron 21st of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 59 (66 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 260 hours and 09 minutes (311 hours and 04 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944, damaged 4 times, transferred to 44 Sqn from IWM. From ORBs. F/Lt Hannan’s sortie on 2/3 Feb ’45 appears to have been in JN-Y2, serial NF981, which was classified at Cat AC after being struck by falling incendiary bombs over the target. JN-Y (Sep 44 – 2/3 Feb 45) JN-D (20, 24 Apr 45 and hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Page 287), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-Y / AA-D from 3GBC. Scrapped Aug 46. JN-K from AIR14/3463- error?
View full Operational history here.
NF991
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron –
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron –
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1944 from 44 Sqn, SOC Oct 1945 from IWM.
No record in Operational database
NG113
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 2nd of September 1944
Lost on the 14th of February 1945 on Chemnitz Op. Lancaster Mk.I NG113 AA-D was en route to the target over Germany when fire suddenly erupted in one wing aft of an engine. The blaze was thought to have started in a broken oil line. The pilot and engineer were unable to close down the engine or feather the propeller and with the fire continuing to grow, the decision was made to abandon the aircraft hurriedly. All the crew reached the ground uninjured but were soon captured and taken to a POW camp. One of the crew, Air Bomber F/S Chambers, later died when the train in which the prisoners were travelling, was straffed by RAF fighters. He was buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 53 (lost on 54th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 256 hours and 24 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Sep 1944, from IWM. NG113 – “New a/c, Waterbeach – Initial Flight Test” (3.05 hrs, Day) from Gordon Ford logbook 9.9.44. Lost on op to Chemnitz 14 Feb 1945, crew POW. ‘Y’ 2.1.45 from ORB’s (Newey). AA-D from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
NG298
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 514 Sqn to 1659 CU, plus serial from IWM.
No record in Operational database
NG322
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-F
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 48 (54 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 281 hours and 40 minutes (307 hours and 55 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944, to 514 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. JN-F confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945.
View full Operational history here.
NG384
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ?-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1945 from 9 Sqn, to 38MU Feb 1946 from IWM. Serial from ADF Serials.
No record in Operational database
NG413
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-C
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Serial/Codes from Sommerville.
No record in Operational database
NG447
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-T
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
AA-T from ? (Newey). Mis-recording of NG449?.
Only 1 Op recorded to this serial, 1st of November 1945 Op to Krefeld, Crawford crew. This Op has been transferred to the record for NG449
NG448
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-A / JN-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 19th of January 1944 from 32 Maintenance Unit
Transferred 19th of June 1945 to 138 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 22 (39 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 135 hours and 4 minutes (202 hours and 49 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jan 1945, to 138 Sqn from IWM.A D.Fairbairn flew an ‘A’ a lot in 1945 (from ORBs) but was a Flight Sergeant not a Flying Officer. From Michael Curtis: I served in the Falklands with his son and I remember him telling me that his father flew Lancs with 75 Sqn from Mepal. His son, T Fairbairn is an RAF Historian, and does the book reviews for AIR MAIL, the Royal Air Force Association quarterly magazine. His father stayed in the RAF after the war, changed branch to GD Ground (ATC), and retired as a S/L. JN-P (20 Feb 45 – ) ??-A (4 May 45), from the ORB’s (Newey). JN-P from 3GBC. ORBS – Mana and Exodus flights – page 262
Lukins AA-A NG448
View full Operational history here.
NG449
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-T/ JN-T
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 4th of January 1945
Lost on the 21st of March 1945 on Munster Op. Lancaster Mk.I NG449 AA-T came under heavy AA fire over the target area and received hits in two engines, then began breaking up. Four of the Plummer crew were virtually thrown from the disintegrating aircraft and parachuted to safety, however all were captured as prisoners of war. Both Sgt Fell and F/S McDonald were badly injured. P/O Humphries implored the Germans to arrange medical treatment for them. They were sent to a semi-medical centre where they remained for a short period until the arrival of allied forces.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 25 (lost on 26th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 161 hours and 27 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jan 1945 from IWM. Shot down target Munster viaduct 21.3.45. Harry Holme’s book has listed as AA and JN. Code confirmed from Simon Sommerville site. JN-T from 3GBC, from Bomber Command database and ADF Serials. AA-T from AIR14/3463
View full Operational history here.
NN
Serial Range NN694 – NN816
100 Lancaster Mk.I’s ordered from Austin Motors (Longbridge) and delivered from March 1944 to February 1945 with Merlin 24 engines except for the last 10 with Merlin 22 engines. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
NN704
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-A
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From “Bombing Colours”, page 211, 17.8.45.
No record in Operational database
NN710
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-Q
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 31st of August 1944
Lost 0n the 27th of December 1944 on Op to Rheydt. Lancaster Mk.I NN710 AA-Q was officially deemed to have crashed in the target area after being struck by a bomb, dropped from an aircraft above, when approaching the target. Only the air bomber, F/O Gunn, survived the crash but was captured as a Prisoner of War.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 38 (Lost on 39th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 170 hours and 35 minutes
Notes of interestNotes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944 from IWM. From ORBs. Shot down target Rheydt 27.12.44. AA-Q from 3GBC and AA-O from ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
NN745
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-A
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 4th of November 1944
Lost on the 21st of November 1944 on Oslo Fjord Op.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 2 (lost on 3rd Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 9 hours and 25 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944, 17 hours from IWM. Shot down mining-Oslo Fiord 21.11.44. NN745 appears in the Form 541 on 15 Nov 44 and was apparently marked AA-A when lost 21/22 November, after only 3 op’s. (LM266 was AA-A up until 4 November, then re-coded AA-F). AA-A from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
NN747
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-O/ AA-O/ AA-D
Name/ nose art: “Dogsbody Again”
Arrived 4th of November 1944
Transferred to 44 Squadron on the 21st of July 1944
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 47 (61 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 255hours and 7 minutes (314 hours and 12 minutes including post-War sorties).
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944, transferred to 44 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. JN-O, 23 Nov 44, ??-D April 45, from the ORB’s (Newey). JN-O confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. Named “Dogsbody Again”, from autographed Squadron Xmas 44 menu: https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/more-information-about-75nz-squadron-ground-crew-christmas-1944. ORBS – Mana and Exodus flights – page 264: Lukins AA-D. Another JN-O appears in the ORB on 17 . 3 . 45, PB424, so seems highly likely JN-O was re-coded AA-D between 12-17 Mar 1945.
NN747 acceptance test recorded in George Tredinnick’s logbook (Ford crew) on the 8th of November 1944 – additional notes says coding became JN-O
View full Operational history here.
NN773
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-G
Name/ nose art:
Arrived from 514 Squadron on the 30th of March 1945
Transferred to 44 Squadron on the 21st of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 17
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 79 hours and 12 minutes
Notes of interest
AA-G from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
PA
Serial Range PA158 – PA835
500 Lancaster Mk.I’s ordered from Vickers-Armstrong (Chester) on April the 5th 1943, of which 235 were delivered from June 1944 to September 1945 with Merlin 24 engines. Many as indicated, were modified to Far East (FE) standard. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
PA256
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, to 39MU from IWM.
No record in Operational database
PA266
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM.
No record in Operational database
PA967
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-D
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 30th of May 1944 from 115 Squadron
Lost on the 20th of July 1944 Op to Homberg. All members of the Howell crew were killed.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 25 (lost on its 26th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 88 hours and 1 minute
Notes of interest
From 115 Sqn, 109 hours from IWM. Shot down target Homberg 20.7.44. Code from FYTomorrow. AA-D from 3GBC, from Bomber Command database and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
PA – PB – PD
Serial Range PA964 – PD196
800 Lancasters ordered from A.V. ROe (Chadderton) in April 1943 of which 756 were delivered as 255 Mk.I’s and 500 Mk.III’s and one Lancastrian between May 1944 and March 1945 mainly from Chadderton with 87 from Yeadon. The following are all Mk.II’s unless otherwise stated with Merlin 38 engines initially installed except for late production models which had Merlin 224 engines. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
PB132
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-T/ AA-X/ AA-Y
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived 8th of June 1944 from 115 Squadron
Transferred to 514 Squadron on the 18th of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 81 (97 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 414 hours and 31 minutes (491 hours and 13 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jun 1944, to 514 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. AA-Y from John Dickinson logbook, 29.10.44. Records indicate later re-coded X. PB132 – Re-coding date confirmed?: Gordon Ford logbook records an op’ to Wanne Eickel on 4.3.45 flying AA-X, PB132. The following day, 5.3.45, the same logbook records an op’ to Gelsenkirchen flying AA-X, RF157. (Photo of AA-X PB132.) 80 Op’s in ORBs, as T then X, plus 4 Operation Manna supply drops to the Netherlands, and 7 POW repatriation flights from Belgium, from ORB’s as T . Attacked by nightfighter 15.4.45 target Potsdam. Photo in Century of Aviation in NZ. Mentioned as AA-Y 23/24.6.44 in Bombs on Target. AA-C in ‘Kiwis Do Fly’! Photo of refuellling Lancaster is purported to be PB132 also. AA-X (14/15 Jun 44 – 4 Mar 45); AA-T (29 Mar 45 – ), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-T / JN-X from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
PB190
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, SOC Oct 1945, plus serial from IWM.
View full Operational history here.
PB380
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: JN-V
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, to 39MU from IWM. JN-V from 3GBC.
No record in Operational database
PB418
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-C
Name/ nose art: “Charlie”
Arrived 9th of August 1944
Transferred to 514 Squadron 18th of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 92 (100 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 496 hours (530 hours and 46 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944,to 514 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. Serial from ORBs. Total op’s = 95 (95th achieved on 22 April, to Bremen, with the Lukins crew), plus 3 Operation Manna supply drops to Rotterdam, plus 5 POW repatriation flights from Juvincourt, May 45, from ORB’s (Newey). AA-C from 3GBC and AIR14/3463.
7th of May – Supply Dropping at Delft is recorded in Wynn Russell’s logbook as “Charlies 100th”
View full Operational history here.
PB421
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-K/ AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 9th of August 1944
Transferred 23rd of May 1945 to 1653 H.C.U.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 76 (85 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 412 hours and 56 minutes (449 hours and 17 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944, to 1653CU from IWM. From ORBs. Code confirmed from Simon Sommerville site. AA-K (23 Nov 44, 21 Dec 44, 5 Jan 45, 2 Feb 45), JN-P (24 Apr 45), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-U / AA-K / AA-P from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
PB424
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: JN-O
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 2nd of March for 15 Squadron
Transferred ultimately to 38 M.U. but history after 75(NZ) is not clear from the Form 78
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 12 (26 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 65 hours and 43 minutes (128 hours and 49 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, scrapped May 1947 from IWM. Serial/Codes from Sommerville… have found a third reference to her in the ORB’s as JN-O: 29/3/45, Thomson crew “released on JN-O”, with PB424 “O” flown by Rangiuaia, C Flight, the only “O” on that op’.
– from her first appearance in the ORB’s (17/3/45) she was flown almost exclusively by C Flight crews including Amohanga, Rangiuaia, Meharry, Hooper, Thomson, Shaw and Flamank.
Plus as below,
– JN-O, from Reuben Birch logbook, Meharry crew, 22/4/45
– JN-O from ORB Form 540 detail for POW repatriation from Juvincourt, Cleminson crew, 11/5/45
View full Operational history here.
PB427
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-U
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 10th of August 1944 from 32 M.U.
Transferred 20th of May 1945 to 1653 C.U.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 70 (79 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 364 hours and 40 minutes (394 hours and 54 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944 from 32MU, to 1653CU May 1945 from IWM. AA-U from John Dickinson logbook, 26.9.44 – 8.12.44. Not the one in photos and the book ‘Bombs on Target’. “PB427/G” 27 Mar 45, from ORB’s (Newey). AA-U from 3GBC and AIR14/3463.
On 5 Ops PB427 carried the suffix ‘G’ – PB427/G (this should not be confused as it’s designator – it is recorded in the Form 541 as an addition to its serial number). Denoting the presence of extremely secret guidance equipment on board, the ‘G’ aircraft was guarded when on the ground and had explosive destruction charges fitted to ensure the equipment, in the event of a crash or landing in occupied territory, could be utterly destroyed.
PB427 appears to be the only aircraft on Squadron that was identified in this way.
View full Operational history here.
PB430
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 15th of August from 32 M.U.
Lost on the 17th of September. S/L Gunn and crew, received a direct hit, which severely damaged the aircraft necessitating both starboard engines being shut down. The Pilot and Flight Engineer had difficulty in maintaining control of the aircraft returning
across the Channel. A decision was made to carry out an emergency landing at RAF Hawkinge, an airfield with a short runway. The Lancaster overshot the runway and crashed. The Pilot, Navigator and Air Bomber were injured, two seriously. The Flight Engineer was killed in the crash. The other three crew escaped uninjured. The Pilot, S/L L G. Gunn (‘B’ Flight Commander) died three days later from his injuries.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 11 (Crashed landed on return form 11th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 51 hours and 49 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944 from 32MU, 70 hours from IWM. AA-P from 3GBC and ADF Serials. Crashed at Mepal on landing from Boulogne, 17 Sep 44.
View full Operational history here.
PB431
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Notes of interest
On Sqn Aug 1944, to 279 Sqn from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
PB520
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-G
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 29th of August 1944
Lost on the 20th of November 1944 Op to Homberg. The Rees crew all survived but were captured and made P.o.W.s
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 24 (lost on 25th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 99 hours and 1 minute
Notes of interest
On Sqn Sep 1944 from IWM. Shot down target Homberg 20.11.44. AA-G from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
PB534
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Notes of interest
On Sqn Oct 1945 from 44 Sqn, to 39MU Nov 1945, plus serial\ from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
PB573
Lancaster Mk.?
Squadron Designator: AA-H
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
AA-K from ? (Newey).
Very likely to be a typo – only one instance – 1st of January 1945 Op to Vohwinkel with Davies crew
HK573 is a possible candidate – flown by the Davies crew on 3 Ops after this one – also AA-H
PB689
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-X
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 13th of October 1944
Lost on the 20th of November 1944 Op to Homberg. PB689 encountered heavy flak after bombing, when approximately 8 miles North East of Moers and the aircraft was seen to explode and crash. All of the Gordon crew were killed. All the crew were buried in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 3 (lost on 4th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 13 hours and 32 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Oct 1944 from IWM. Shot down target Homberg 20.11.44. AA-X from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
PB741
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-E
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 9th of November 1944
Lost on the 14th of March 1945 on Op to Heinrich-Hutte. Lancaster Mk.I PB741 AA-E was struck by heavy flak over the target at Heinrich-Hutte, Hattingen, causing catastrophic damage to the port engines and wing, which broke off as the aircraft descended out of control through cloud. All of the Parsons crew were killed in the resultant crash. The flight engineer and air bomber have no known graves. The other five crew members are buried at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 40 (lost on 41st Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 218 hours and 40 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944 from IWM. From ORBs. Shot down target Heinrich-Hutte 14.3.45. AA-F (23 Nov 44, 1 Jan 45), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-E from 3GBC and ADF Serials.
View full Operational history here.
PB761
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-Y
Name/ nose art: “Yorker”
Arrived 10th of November 1944
Lost on the 16th of January 1945 Op to Wanne-Eickel. On return, having successfully bombed the target, PB761 crashed at Wood-Ditton in Suffolk, hitting the old Suffolk thatched barn behind Hill Farmhouse. The Pilot, Tim Blewitt and Air Bomber NZ426234 F/O J. Wilson were killed on impact. The Navigator 1398282 F/S Cornell, B.T. died later as a result of severe injuries.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 24 (lost on return from 24th)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 122 hours and 35 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944 from IWM. From ORBs. AA-Y from John Dickinson logbook, 28.11.44. AA-Y confirmed in Battle Order, Dortmund 3 Jan 1945. Crashed on return at Wood Ditton, Suffolk, target Wanne-Eickel, 16.1.45. From Simon Sommerville:
View full Operational history here.
PB763
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-A/ AA-M
Name/ nose art: not known
Arrived 15th of November 1944
Transferred 21st of July 1945 to 44 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 46 (60 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 273 hours and 6 minutes (330 hours and 29 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944, to 49 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM.From ORBs. AA-A (27 Mar 45) AA-M (18 Apr 45), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-A from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
PB820
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-V
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 45 (59 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 265 hours and 6 minutes (326 hours and 54 minutes including post-War sorties
Notes of interest
On Sqn Nov 1944, to 514 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM.From ORB’s. JN-Y (5 Jan 45) JN-V (24 Apr 45), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-V from 3GBC. Photo – front row L to R: Tapua Heperi, Randall Hewitt, Douglas St.Clair Clement and Ross Manley Cato.
back row L to R: 2 members of ground crew are stood at each end of this row, the remaining aircrew are most likely to be: W. Richardson, J. Wildish and F. Watts, but I am currently unsure who is who.
Pilot Douglas St.Clair Clement and his crew flew 31 ops between 28th November 1944 to 14th April 1945. Of these 31 ops, 22 were in PB820. The crew had a Maori Wireless Operator, F/S Tapua Heperi. So the story goes, Pilot Eric Meharry could speak Maori – very rare for a ‘Pakeha’ and would apparently converse with a Maori airman in his native tongue over the radio. Martyn wonders if Tapua was that chap. We shall never know I am afraid – looking at the dates the Meharry crew flew, relative to Tapua and the rest of the Clement crew, it would only have given them a month for their conversations.
View full Operational history here.
PD122
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
Serial and from 46MU, damaged Mar 16 1947, transferred to MU from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
PD
Serial Range PD198 – PD444
200 Lancaster Mk.I’s ordered in April 1943 from Metropolitan-Vickers and delivered June to December 1944 with Merlin 24 engines. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
PD327
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 630 Sqn, SOC Oct 1945 from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
PD372
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, to 38MU Feb 1946 from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
PD422
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Jul 1945 from 44 Sqn, broken up Dec 1945 from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
PP
Serial Range PP663 – PP918
200 Lancaster Mk.I’s ordered from Vickers-Armstrong (Castle Bromwich) of which 100 dere delivered from February 21st to August 22nd, 1945 with Merlin 24 engines. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
PP663
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-Z
Name/ nose art: none
Arrived February 1945
Transferred to 44 Squadron July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 10 (19 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 64 hours and 9 minutes (109 hours and 52 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945, to 44 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. From 3GBC and ADF Serials. JN from ORB’s (Newey). PB663 Z from ORBs hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Page 291. JN-Z, G-H leader in 21 March 45, from ORB entry for Cox crew, flying in PB418 AA-C. JN-Z from AIR14/3463
View full Operational history here.
PP678
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-A
Name/ nose art:
Arrived From 138 Squadron
Transferred to 44 Squadron July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 0 (3 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 0 (16 hours and 33 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
From 138 Sqn, to 44 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. A from hand-written codes from the Bombing viewing flights Pp285, 289
View full Operational history here.
RA
Serial Range RA500 – RA806
250 Lancasters ordered from Metropolitan-Vickers in August 1943 of which 201 aircraft were built and delivered from December 1944 to April 1945 as 121 Lancaster B.I’s with Merlin 24 engines initially installed, 28 Lincoln B.I’s and 52 Lincoln B.II’s. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
RA510
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-E/ AA-J
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 19th of January 1945 from A.V. Roe
Transferred 21st of July 1945 to 44 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 12 (22 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 78 hours and 58 minutes (128 hours and 14 minutes, including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
1000th Lanc built by Metro-Vickers, transferred to MU from IWM.AA-J (Feb 45) AA-E (27 Mar 45), from ORB’s (Newey). AA-E from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
RA541
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-J
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 2nd of March 1945 from 115 Squadron
Transferred 14th of May 1945 to 514 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 19 (24 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 111 hours and 29 minutes (131 hours and 8 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945, to 514 Sqn from IWM. AA-J 23.3.45, from ORB’s (Newey). AA-J from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
RA564
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-P
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 2nd of March 1945 from 514 Squadron
Lost on the 21st of March 1945 on the Munster Op. Lancaster Mk.I RA564 JN-P was bombing the target at Munster when it was struck by a bomb falling from another aircraft flying above, which exploded. There were no survivors from the Barr crew. Only the body of the rear gunner was found and buried at Margraten, Holland. The other crew members have no known graves.
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 3 (lost on 4th Op)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 16 hours and 6 minutes
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1945 from IWM. Shot down target Munster viaduct 21.3.45. JN-P from ORB’s (Newey). (RA564 “P” appears again on 13/14 Apr 45). JN-P from 3GBC and AA-P from ADF Serials/ Bomber Command database.. JN-P from AIR14/3463
Aircraft has one Op attributed to it after it was lost on the 21st of March Munster Viaduct Op, so clearly a clerical error
View full Operational history here.
RA598
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 460 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM.
No evidence in Operational database
RE – RF
Serial Range RE100 – RF119
700 Lancasters ordered from A.V. Roe (Yeadon) which were built as 87 Lancaster B.III’s with Merlin 224’s from March to June 1945, 59 Lincoln B.I’s and 112 Lincoln B.II’s. RE100 – 114 cancelled. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
RE131
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM. Serial probably wrong, RF131?
No evidence in Operational database
RE132
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred/ Lost
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM. Serial probably wrong, RF132?
No evidence in Operational database
RF
Serial Range RF120 – RF599
370 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft in October 1943 and delivered as 65 Lancaster B.I’s and 105 B.III’s from February to May 1945 and 2 Lincoln B/I’s and 198 Lincoln B.II’s from Baginton and Bitteswell. (from Avro Lancaster – The Definitive record ( 2nd Edition), Holmes, Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001)
RF127
Lancaster Mk.III
Squadron Designator: AA-W
Name/ nose art: none ‘William’/ ‘WIllie’
Arrived 11th of February
Transferred to 44 Squadron 21st of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 22 (37 including post-War Ops)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 126 hours and 24 minutes (194 hours and 49 minutes including post-War Ops)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945, to 44 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. From the ORB’s (Newey). AA-W from 3GBC. The second AA-W was RF127, which I would love to hope was the Lanc in this picture….
Letter from Mallon crew Navigator Jim Haworth dated 25.4.45 (http://robertalfredjay.blogspot.co.uk/), “Bill has been told that he is being repatriated so the C.O. has pulled him off ops. He let him go on our last one yesterday, our eighth, before telling him. He left his last trip in a blaze of glory by nearly doing a ground hop on landing. A tyre burst just as we touched down & he could not correct it enough to keep it straight so it turned off the runway & finished up facing the way we had come. Quite exciting – the fire section jeep was there by the time we had stopped, or nearly so, followed by the fire wagon and two meat wagons. Horrible disappointment to all concerned there wasn’t even a bleeding nose. Anyway Bill’s namesake ‘Willie’ has to have a new undercart now. The trip was a daylight one to a place called Bad Oldesloe above Hamburg. The tamest trip so far – not a bit of flak anywhere except for an odd burst crossing the coast. We were deputy-leader of the squadron but that’s all.” The 75(NZ) ORB entry for 23/4/45 lists AA-W as RF137. The 3 preceeding raids to Bad Oldsloe on the 23 of April are;
22/4 Bremen
14/4 Potsdam
13/4 Kiel (Dads last flight in AA-W)
All these 3 raids list AA-W as RF127. The next flight of AA-W is 29/4 Supply dropping to Delft (Manna) also listed as RF127.
View full Operational history here.
RF129
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: JN-M
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 10th of February 1945
Transferred 21st of July 1945 to 44 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 28 (37 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 166 hours and 50 minutes (204 hours and 55 minutes including post-War sorties)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945, to 44 Sqn Jul 1945 from IWM. ”M’ from ORBs. JN-M from Gerry Newey logbook entry 19 Feb 45. cross-ref. with ORB’s (Newey). AA-M from 3GBC. JN-M from AIR14/3463
There has been some discussion regarding the apparent lack of Op tally markings on NE181 ‘The Captains Fancy’ after it’s 101st to Weisbaden on the 2nd of February 1945. It is known that NE181 underwent a significant overhaul – possibly in expectation of the successful lobbying to secure its future by having it flown back to New Zealand, celebrating its unique status as being the only bomber from a New Zealand Squadron to pass ‘the tonne’. Sadly, despite the Squadron’s best efforts to convince the New Zealand Government, the plan failed, pathetically in hindsight, owing to the cost of fuel for the flight home.
Fourteen days later on the 16th of February, a new Lancaster Mk.I – RF129, undertook its first Operation with the Squadron – its Flight and designator were JN-M.
After this first Op, RF129 flew another 27 Ops (1 being a dnc on the Cologne Op of the 2nd of March 1945), 4 food dropping sorties and a Prisoner repatriation. The 33rd sortie on the 10th of May to Juvincourt was the last that this aircraft flew as JN-M.
The next day, having returned to Squadron duties, NE181 once again flew as JN-M, flying Prisoners of War back from Juvincourt in France. RF129 also took part in this sortie – now carrying JN-N
RF129 was ultimately left at Mepal when the Squadron moved to Spilsby on the 21st of July 1945, being inherited by 44 Squadron. On the 15th of September the aircraft was transferred to No. 20 Maintenance Unit.
On the 7th of May 1947 RF129 was sold to Messers Cooley & Co. of Hounslow for scrap.
View full Operational history here.
RF131
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From ADF Serials.
No evidence in Operational database
RF132
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From ADF Serials.
No evidence in Operational database
RF157
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-X
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 25th of February 1945
Transferred 21st of July 1945 to 44 Squadron
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 21 (32 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 123 hours and 48 minutes (178 hours and 49 minutes)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Feb 1945, to 44 Sqn from IWM. First op’ on Squadron?: AA-X, RF157 from Gordon Ford logbook, 5.3.45. The previous day, 4.3.45, his logbook records AA-X, PB132. Code from Simon Sommerville site. AA-X Mar 45, from ORB’s (Newey). AA-X from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
RF190
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: AA-F
Name/ nose art:
Arrived 17th of March 1945 from 115 Squadron.
Transferred to 44 Squadron 21st of July 1945
Number of Ops completed with Squadron – 10 (25 including post-War sorties)
Number of Operational Hours flown with Squadron – 59 hours and 41 minutes (130 hours and 46 minutes including post-War Ops)
Notes of interest
On Sqn Mar 1945, to 44 Sqn from IWM. AA-P or AA-F? (indistinct) 23.3.45, from ORB’s (Newey). AA-F from 3GBC.
View full Operational history here.
RF206
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
On Sqn Sep 1945 from 44 Sqn, to Spilsby Oct 1945 from IWM. From ADF Serials.
No record in Operational database.
RF238
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM. From ADF Serials.
No record in Operational database.
RF240
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM. From ADF Serials.
No record in Operational database.
RF265
Lancaster Mk.I
Squadron Designator: ??-?
Name/ nose art:
Arrived
Transferred
Notes of interest
From 44 Sqn, to 207 Sqn from IWM. From ADF Serials.
No record in Operational database.
75(nz)squadron 