Lancaster (Total: 7,377, Canadian: 542, Group 537)
Avro Lancaster
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.
The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia
Lancaster Bomber
Wikipedia Lancaster ED303, Mk.I/III
s/n ED303
Avro
ED 303
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED304, Mk.I/III
s/n ED304
Avro
ED 304
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED305, Mk.I/III
s/n ED305
Avro
ED 305
Merlin
Lancaster ED306, Mk.I/III
s/n ED306
Avro
ED 306
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED307, Mk.I/III
s/n ED307
Avro
ED 307
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED308, Mk.I/III
s/n ED308
Avro
ED 308
Merlin
Lancaster ED309, Mk.I/III
s/n ED309
Avro
ED 309
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-February-08 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 Harry Gordon Black 2024-10-29 1943-February-08 KIA RCAF Sergeant Robert William Drury 2024-10-29 1943-February-08 KIA RCAF Flying Officer John Whitla Millar 2024-10-29 1943-February-08 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 Kenneth Mitchell Perkins 2024-10-29 1943-February-08 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant William Wilson Scrimgeour 2024-10-29 Lancaster ED310, Mk.I/III
s/n ED310
Avro
ED 310
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED311, Mk.I/III
s/n ED311
Avro
ED 311
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED312, Mk.I/III
s/n ED312
Avro
ED 312
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED313, Mk.I/III
s/n ED313
Avro
ED 313
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED314, Mk.I/III
s/n ED314
Avro
ED 314
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED315, Mk.I/III
s/n ED315
Avro
ED 315
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED316, Mk.I/III
s/n ED316
Avro
ED 316
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED317, Mk.I/III
s/n ED317
Avro
ED 317
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED318, Mk.I/III
s/n ED318
Avro
ED 318
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED319, Mk.I/III
s/n ED319
Avro
ED 319
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED320, Mk.I/III
s/n ED320
Avro
ED 320
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED321, Mk.I/III
s/n ED321
Avro
ED 321
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED322, Mk.I/III
s/n ED322
Avro
ED 322
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1942-December-07 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Leonard Roy Anderson 2024-08-21 1942-December-07 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Howard Earl Dabbs DFC 2024-08-21 1942-December-07 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Stefan Franchuk 2024-08-21 1942-December-07 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Robert John Middleton 2024-08-21 1942-December-07 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Robert Gordon Smith 2024-08-21 Lancaster ED323, Mk.I/III
s/n ED323
Avro
ED 323
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED324, Mk.I/III
s/n ED324
Avro
ED 324
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED325, Mk.I/III
s/n ED325
Avro
ED 325
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED326, Mk.I/III
s/n ED326
Avro
ED 326
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED327, Mk.I/III
s/n ED327
Avro
ED 327
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED328, Mk.I/III
s/n ED328
Avro
ED 328
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED329, Mk.I/III
s/n ED329
Avro
ED 329
Merlin
Lancaster ED330, Mk.I/III
s/n ED330
Avro
ED 330
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED331, Mk.I/III
s/n ED331
Avro
ED 331
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED332, Mk.I/III
s/n ED332
Avro
ED 332
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED333, Mk.I/III
s/n ED333
Avro
ED 333
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1942-December-17 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Stanley Finace Mattoon 2021-08-16 1942-December-17 KIA RCAF Flying Officer Samuel Lorne McBurney 2021-08-17 1942-December-17 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Leonard Everett Thorneycroft 2021-10-02 1942-December-17 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Chester Charles Trudell 2021-07-14 Lancaster ED334, Mk.I/III
s/n ED334
Avro
ED 334
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED347, Mk.I/III
s/n ED347
Avro
ED 347
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED348, Mk.I/III
s/n ED348
Avro
ED 348
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED349, Mk.I/III
s/n ED349
Avro
ED 349
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1942-December-17 PoW RAAF Sergeant Elliot Richmond Aldridge 2024-11-01
1942-December-17 PoW RAF Sergeant Leslie Britton Holmes 2022-05-09 1942-December-17 PoW RAF Sergeant John Richard Lord 2022-05-09 1942-December-17 PoW RAF Sergeant Alexander Stoddart MacKinley 2022-05-09
1942-December-17 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant William Harvey Penn 2023-10-30 1942-December-17 PoW RAF Sergeant Albert Willis 2022-05-09 1942-December-17 PoW RCAF Warrant Officer 1 John Wilson 2024-11-01 Lancaster ED350, Mk.I/III
s/n ED350
Avro
ED 350
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED351, Mk.I/III
s/n ED351
Avro
ED 351
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED352, Mk.I/III
s/n ED352
Avro
ED 352
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED353, Mk.I/III
s/n ED353
Avro
ED 353
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED354, Mk.I/III
s/n ED354
Avro
ED 354
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED355, Mk.I/III
s/n ED355
Avro
ED 355
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED356, Mk.I/III
s/n ED356
Avro
ED 356
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Sergeant John Stanley Fayle 2024-05-26 1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Robert Stanley Hannah 2024-05-26 1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Flying Officer Murray Kerr Sexton 2024-06-28 1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Flying Officer George Howard Wheeler 2024-07-12 1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Percy Gordon Williams 2024-07-12 Lancaster ED357, Mk.I/III
s/n ED357
Avro
ED 357
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED358, Mk.I/III
s/n ED358
Avro
ED 358
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED359, Mk.I/III
s/n ED359
Avro
ED 359
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED360, Mk.I/III
s/n ED360
Avro
ED 360
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-01-15 to 1943-01-16
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, England
Delivered to No. 467 Australian Squadron (Recidite Adversarius Atque Ferociter) in Dec 1942. RAF Bottesford Lancaster I aircraft ED 360 on a raid to Berlin, Germany. Rear gunner FS AJ Broemeling (RCAF) failed to respond on the intercom and was found unconscious, probably due to failure of his oxygen mask. His issued mask was found to be faulty and he was given the spare mask carried aboard instead. The spare mask was an older version prone to freezing and it is believed to have malfunctioned at the 19,000 ft altitude and temperatures about -50C that the aircraft was flying. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Thiele RNZAF, quickly dived to a lower altitude then put the bomber on auto pilot while still in the target area to assist in pulling Flight Sergeant Broemeling out of his turret, but despite continuous artificial respiration being applied by the rest of the crew (Sergeant Bovis RAF, Sergeant Metcalfe RAF, Sergeant Sheekey RAF, Sergeant Gillman RAF and Sergeant Everard RAF). The aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire several times but managed to limp back to Botteford. FS Broemeling was declared dead when the aircraft landed (A. Storr). Lancaster I ED 360 was shot down six months later, flying with 106 Sqn, on July 9, 1943.Lancaster ED361, Mk.I/III
s/n ED361
Avro
ED 361
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED362, Mk.I/III
s/n ED362
Avro
ED 362
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED363, Mk.I/III
s/n ED363
Avro
ED 363
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-06-29 to 1943-06-29
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, Leicesershire, England
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 363 (PO-E) crashed in Roermond, Holland. Two RAAF, and four RAF members of the crew were also killed. Target - Cologne, Germany. W/O T.W.J. Copeland (RCAF), FS. RI Gates (RAAF), Sgt's G.R.C. Cayless (RAF), J.G. Hole (RAF), and H.H. Mooney (RAF) were also killed. Two RAF members of the crew, Sgt.'s E. Pike and D. Dolby were taken Prisoners Of War.Lancaster ED364, Mk.I/III
s/n ED364
Avro
ED 364
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED365, Mk.I/III
s/n ED365
Avro
ED 365
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED366, Mk.I/III
s/n ED366
Avro
ED 366
Merlin
Lancaster ED367, Mk.I/III
s/n ED367
Avro
ED 367
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-01-08 to 1943-01-09
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, England
467 (Australian) Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 367, first aircraft lost by 467 Sqn, failed to return from operations over enemy territory. Five RCAF members, P/O's R.T. Hanbidge, A.M. Wark, FS's S.V. Woyce, D.H. Powell, and H.A. Horton were killed. RAF Sgt.'s E Florey and J. Humphries were also killed. 1943-January-08 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Ralph Trever Hanbidge 2024-01-23 1943-January-08 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Harold Albert Horton 2021-10-02 1943-January-08 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant David Haynes Barcham Powell 2021-09-30 1943-January-08 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Albert Mercier Wark 2021-10-02 1943-January-08 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Stanley Verdun Woyce 2021-10-02 Lancaster ED368, Mk.I/III
s/n ED368
Avro
ED 368
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED369, Mk.I/III
s/n ED369
Avro
ED 369
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED370, Mk.I/III
s/n ED370
Avro
ED 370
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-11-26 to 1943-11-26
460 () Sqn (RAAF) RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England
460 Australia Squadron (Strike And Return). Lancaster aircraft ED 370, part of a combined force of 443 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes, went missing during an attack against Berlin, Germany. Returning crews reported heavy flak over Berlin and night fighters while homeward bound. Killed were RCAF Sgt. G.D. Arnott (air gunner) and Flt. Sgt. N.W. McNair (bomb aimer); RAAF Flt. Sgt. E.J. Stones (pilot); and RAF Sgt's. R.G. Jones (flight engineer), K.G. Smith (navigator), W. Belton (wireless operator / air gunner), and J.H. McIvor (air gunner).Lancaster ED371, Mk.I/III
s/n ED371
Avro
ED 371
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED372, Mk.I/III
s/n ED372
Avro
ED 372
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED373, Mk.I/III
s/n ED373
Avro
ED 373
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED374, Mk.I/III
s/n ED374
Avro
ED 374
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED375, Mk.I/III
s/n ED375
Avro
ED 375
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED376, Mk.I/III
s/n ED376
Avro
ED 376
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1944-June-17 KIFA RAFVR Sergeant Thomas William Bettridge 2025-01-18 1944-June-17 KIFA RCAF Flying Officer Philip Horace Duval 2025-01-18 1944-June-17 KIFA RCAF Flying Officer Donald Ross Gilchrist 2025-01-18 1944-June-17 KIFA RCAF Sergeant Arthur Kenneth Hrycenko 2025-01-18 1944-June-17 KIFA RCAF Sergeant Otis Wilfrid Libby 2025-01-18 1944-June-17 KIFA RAFVR Sergeant Cyril Quanborough 2025-01-18 1944-June-17 KIFA RCAF Flying Officer Richard Reginald Frederick Whitby 2025-01-18 Lancaster ED377, Mk.I/III
s/n ED377
Avro
ED 377
Merlin
Lancaster ED378, Mk.I/III
s/n ED378
Avro
ED 378
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED379, Mk.I/III
s/n ED379
Avro
ED 379
Merlin
Lancaster ED380, Mk.I/III
s/n ED380
Avro
ED 380
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED381, Mk.I/III
s/n ED381
Avro
ED 381
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED382, Mk.I/III
s/n ED382
Avro
ED 382
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED383, Mk.I/III
s/n ED383
Avro
ED 383
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED384, Mk.I/III
s/n ED384
Avro
ED 384
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED385, Mk.I/III
s/n ED385
Avro
ED 385
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED386, Mk.I/III
s/n ED386
Avro
ED 386
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED387, Mk.I/III
s/n ED387
Avro
ED 387
Merlin
Lancaster ED388, Mk.I/III
s/n ED388
Avro
ED 388
Merlin
Lancaster ED389, Mk.I/III
s/n ED389
Avro
ED 389
Merlin
Lancaster ED390, Mk.I/III
s/n ED390
Avro
ED 390
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED391, Mk.I/III
s/n ED391
Avro
ED 391
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED392, Mk.I/III
s/n ED392
Avro
ED 392
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED393, Mk.I/III
s/n ED393
Avro
ED 393
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED394, Mk.I/III
s/n ED394
Avro
ED 394
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED395, Mk.I/III
s/n ED395
Avro
ED 395
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED396, Mk.I/III
s/n ED396
Avro
ED 396
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED404,
s/n ED404
ED 404
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED405,
s/n ED405
ED 405
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED406,
s/n ED406
ED 406
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED407,
s/n ED407
ED 407
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED408, Mk.I/III
s/n ED408
Avro
ED 408
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED409, Mk.I/III
s/n ED409
Avro
ED 409
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED410, Mk.I/III
s/n ED410
Avro
ED 410
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED411, Mk.I/III
s/n ED411
Avro
ED 411
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED412, Mk.I/III
s/n ED412
Avro
ED 412
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED413, Mk.I/III
s/n ED413
Avro
ED 413
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED414, Mk.I/III
s/n ED414
Avro
ED 414
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED415, Mk.I/III
s/n ED415
Avro
ED 415
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED416, Mk.I/III
s/n ED416
Avro
ED 416
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED417, Mk.I/III
s/n ED417
Avro
ED 417
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED418, Mk.I/III
s/n ED418
Avro
ED 418
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED419, Mk.I/III
s/n ED419
Avro
ED 419
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED420, Mk.I/III
s/n ED420
Avro
ED 420
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED421, Mk.I/III
s/n ED421
Avro
ED 421
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-08-23 to 1943-08-23
460 () Sqn (RAAF) RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England
460 Australia Squadron (Strike And Strike Again). Lancaster ED 421 took off from RAF Binbrook at 2055 hours on 23 August 1943 to attack Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Casualties included RAF Sgt's. W.A. Finlay (flight engineer) and T. Smale (air gunner); RAAF Flt. Sgt's. J.G. Collins (wireless operator / air gunner) and J. Marsh (air gunner). Taken Prisoners of War were RAAF Flt. Sgt's. K. Gay (navigator), J.C. Munro (bomb aimer), and A.T. Richards (pilot).Lancaster ED422, Mk.I/III
s/n ED422
Avro
ED 422
Merlin
Lancaster ED423, Mk.I/III
s/n ED423
Avro
ED 423
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED424, Mk.I/III
s/n ED424
Avro
ED 424
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED425, Mk.I/III
s/n ED425
Avro
ED 425
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED426, Mk.I/III
s/n ED426
Avro
ED 426
Merlin
Lancaster ED427, Mk.I/III
s/n ED427
Avro
ED 427
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED428, Mk.I/III
s/n ED428
Avro
ED 428
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED429, Mk.I/III
s/n ED429
Avro
ED 429
Merlin
Lancaster ED430, Mk.I/III
s/n ED430
Avro
ED 430
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED431, Mk.I/III
s/n ED431
Avro
ED 431
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED432, Mk.I/III
s/n ED432
Avro
ED 432
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED433, Mk.I/III
s/n ED433
Avro
ED 433
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED434, Mk.I/III
s/n ED434
Avro
ED 434
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Oberhausen Germany 1943-06-14 to 1943-06-15
(B) Sqn (RAF) Fiskerton
Battle of the Ruhr
An all Lancaster force of 197, guided by 6 Oboe Mosquitoes made a successful attack on Oberhausen. Despite the target being cloud-covered, accurate sky-marking enabled the bombers to do considerable damage. Twelve Lancasters lifted from Fiskerton's runway, the last one away by 22.32hrs. The crews found themselves engaged in a savage battle from both flak and fighters which resulted in Bomber Command losing 17 aircraft.
Of those missing: Sergeant Frost (ED434) and crew had been shot down by a German night fighter flown by Hauptmann Hans-Dieter Frank I./NJG1. The aircraft fell to the ground 2 kilometers East of Dodewaard, Holland at 01.13hrs. The pilot and flight engineer survived to become POW's in Stalag 357, Kopernikus; the remainder of the crew are buried in Uden War Cemetery.
1943-June-15 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Walter Lawrence Chatfield 2024-02-10 1943-June-15 KIA RAFVR Sergeant John Robert Coulsey 2024-05-02 1943-June-15 PoW RAF Sergeant Reginald Frost 2023-06-15 1943-June-15 PoW Sergeant Nathan Charles Hitchcock 2023-08-26 1943-June-15 KIA RAF Sergeant Victor Horsley 2023-06-15 1943-June-15 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Peter Alfred Toms 2023-06-15 1943-June-15 KIA RAFVR Flying Officer Alan Ewart Whittaker 2023-06-15 Lancaster ED435, Mk.I/III
s/n ED435
Avro
ED 435
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED436, Mk.I/III
s/n ED436
Avro
ED 436
Merlin
Lancaster ED437, Mk.I/III
s/n ED437
Avro
ED 437
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED438, Mk.I/III
s/n ED438
Avro
ED 438
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED439, Mk.I/III
s/n ED439
Avro
ED 439
Merlin
Lancaster ED440, Mk.I/III
s/n ED440
Avro
ED 440
Merlin
Lancaster ED441, Mk.I/III
s/n ED441
Avro
ED 441
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED442, Mk.I/III
s/n ED442
Avro
ED 442
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED443, Mk.I/III
s/n ED443
Avro
ED 443
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED444, Mk.I/III
s/n ED444
Avro
ED 444
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED445, Mk.I/III
s/n ED445
Avro
ED 445
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED446, Mk.I/III
s/n ED446
Avro
ED 446
Merlin
Lancaster ED447, Mk.I/III
s/n ED447
Avro
ED 447
Merlin
Lancaster ED448, Mk.I/III
s/n ED448
Avro
ED 448
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED449, Mk.I/III
s/n ED449
Avro
ED 449
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED450, Mk.I/III
s/n ED450
Avro
ED 450
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED451, Mk.I/III
s/n ED451
Avro
ED 451
Merlin
Lancaster ED452, Mk.I/III
s/n ED452
Avro
ED 452
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED453, Mk.I/III
s/n ED453
Avro
ED 453
Merlin
Lancaster ED467, Mk.I/III
s/n ED467
Avro
ED 467
Merlin
Lancaster ED468, Mk.I/III
s/n ED468
Avro
ED 468
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED469, Mk.I/III
s/n ED469
Avro
ED 469
Merlin
Lancaster ED470, Mk.I/III
s/n ED470
Avro
ED 470
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED471, Mk.I/III
s/n ED471
Avro
ED 471
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-January-17 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Leslie James Bond 2024-11-14 1943-January-17 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Jack Eastwood 2025-01-27 1943-January-17 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Iain Fraser 2025-01-27 1943-January-17 KIA RCAF Flying Officer Robert Harvie 2025-01-27 1943-January-17 KIA RAAF Pilot Officer Esmond Peter Heinrich 2025-01-27 1943-January-17 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 John Aylwin Moore 2025-01-27 1943-January-17 KIA RAF Flight Sergeant Arthur Gwilyn Thomas 2025-01-27 Lancaster ED472, Mk.I/III
s/n ED472
Avro
ED 472
Merlin
Lancaster ED473, Mk.I/III
s/n ED473
Avro
ED 473
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED474, Mk.I/III
s/n ED474
Avro
ED 474
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED475, Mk.I/III
s/n ED475
Avro
ED 475
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED476, Mk.I/III
s/n ED476
Avro
ED 476
Merlin
Lancaster ED477, Mk.I/III
s/n ED477
Avro
ED 477
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED478, Mk.I/III
s/n ED478
Avro
ED 478
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED479, Mk.I/III
s/n ED479
Avro
ED 479
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED480, Mk.I/III
s/n ED480
Avro
ED 480
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED481, Mk.I/III
s/n ED481
Avro
ED 481
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-January-31 KIA RCAF Sergeant Mckeen Allan 2024-10-26 1943-January-31 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Arthur William Butcher 2024-10-26 1943-January-31 KIA RAFVR Sergeant George Francis Done 2024-10-26 1943-January-31 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Henry Summers Jones 2024-10-26
1943-January-31 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Walter George Murton 2024-10-26 1943-January-31 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 Frank Goheen Nelson 2024-10-26 1943-January-31 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Allan Arthur Frederick Williams 2024-10-26 Lancaster ED482, Mk.I/III
s/n ED482
Avro
ED 482
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED483, Mk.I/III
s/n ED483
Avro
ED 483
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED484, Mk.I/III
s/n ED484
Avro
ED 484
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED485, Mk.I/III
s/n ED485
Avro
ED 485
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1943-02-19 to 1943-02-19
156 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Warboys
156 Squadron (We Light The Way), Pathfinder Force, RAF Warboys. Lancaster BII aircraft ED 485 was lost without a trace during an operation over the naval yards at Wlihelmshaven, Germany. The Lancaster may have been shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Paul Gildner of the Stab IV/NJG-1, crashing into the North Sea, North of Vlieland, Friesland, Netherlands with the loss of the entire crew
Pilot Officer H W Welch (RCAF), Pilot Officer T E Case (RCAF), Pilot Officer P Y C Tremblay (RCAF), Pilot Officer E Cuthbert (RNZAF), Pilot Officer H A McLennan DFM (RAAF), Sergeant E P G Bayliss (RAFVR) and Sergeant J W Denby (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action
The missing have no known graves and all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Several of the crew members of Lancaster ED 245 had been involved in the crash of 156 Squadron Wellington III aircraft X3811, which encountered icing conditions and was abandoned over England after a fire started
Flight Sergeant T E Case (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant H W Welch (RCAF) were slightly injured, Flight Sergeant P Y C Tremblay (RCAF), Sergeant H A McLennan (RAAF) and Sergeant E Cuthbert (RNZAF) survived, safe. However, the Wellington crashed into the village of Somersham, Huntingdon, England, where it destroyed several houses on High Street and killed 11 people on the ground: Pauline Margaret Cattanach, Vera Cattanach, Juliana Davies, Annie Maria Holdich, Alice Lamb, William Francis Lamb, Violet Ewing Moule, Eliza Nightingale, Elizabeth Richardson, Ena Joyce Stroud and Elsie May Taylor
Several of the crew members of Lancaster ED 245 had previously been involved in the crash of 156 Squadron Wellington III aircraft X3811, which encountered icing conditions and was abandoned over England
Flight Sergeant T E Case (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant H W Welch (RCAF) were slightly injured, Flight Sergeant P Y C Tremblay (RCAF), Sergeant H A McLennan (RAAF) and Sergeant E Cuthbert (RNZAF) survived, safe. However, the Wellington crashed into the village of Somersham, Huntingdon, England, where it destroyed several houses on High Street and killed 11 people on the ground: Pauline Margaret Cattanach, Vera Cattanach, Juliana Davies, Annie Maria Holdich, Alice Lamb, William Francis Lamb, Violet Ewing Moule, Eliza Nightingale, Elizabeth Richardson, Ena Joyce Stroud and Elsie May Taylor
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Vlielandin: 7 killed I Bureau of...
1943-February-19 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Edward Percy George Bayliss 2023-11-04 1943-February-19 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Thomas Edward Case 2024-01-16
1943-February-19 KIA RNZAF Pilot Officer Elias Cuthbert 2023-11-27 1943-February-19 KIA RAFVR Sergeant John William Denby 2024-10-12 1943-February-19 KIA RAAF Pilot Officer Hugh Alexander McLennan DFM 2023-11-27 1943-February-19 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Pierre Yves Camille Tremblay 2023-11-04 1943-February-19 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Harry William Welch 2023-11-27 Lancaster ED486, Mk.I/III
s/n ED486
Avro
ED 486
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED487, Mk.I/III
s/n ED487
Avro
ED 487
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-June-17 PoW RAFVR Sergeant John Anthony Aldersley 2024-11-01 1943-June-17 KIA RAF Sergeant Patrick Hall 2023-08-26 1943-June-17 PoW RAFVR Sergeant Harold Popplestone 2022-03-03 1943-June-17 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Herbert Francis Poynter 2023-08-27 1943-June-17 PoW RAFVR Sergeant Charles James Sinclair 2022-03-03 1943-June-17 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant David Gerald Tremblay 2023-11-09 1943-June-17 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Denis Webster 2023-08-27 Lancaster ED488, Mk.I/III
s/n ED488
Avro
ED 488
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED489, Mk.I/III
s/n ED489
Avro
ED 489
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED490, Mk.I/III
s/n ED490
Avro
ED 490
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED491, Mk.I/III
s/n ED491
Avro
ED 491
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED492, Mk.I/III
s/n ED492
Avro
ED 492
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1943-02-18 to 1943-02-19
9 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Waddington
9 Squadron (Per noctum volamus) RAF Waddington. Lancaster III aircraft ED 492 WS-W was reported as involved in a mid-air collision with another Lancaster near the target area of Wilhelmshaven, Germany by there is also a claim from heavy flak battery Marine Flak Abt 282 at Hooksiel, Germany. The Lancaster crashed at Schreiersort, near Wangerland, Germany with the loss of four aircrew members killed
Flight Sergeant Ernest John Walter Davis (RAFVR), Sergeant James Storey Aird (RAFVR), Sergeant Alfred Thomas Berwick (RAFVR) and Sergeant Ralph William Darlington (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Sergeant Howard Wallace Fullard (RCAF), Warrant Officer James Vaughan (RAFVR) and Warrant Officer John Arthur Jones-Ford (RAFVR) all survived to become Prisoners of War
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part One - 1 January - 22 June by Theo Boiten, page 29
Bombers First and Last by Gordon Thorburn, page 377
1943-February-19 KIA RAFVR Sergeant James Storey Aird 2024-12-04 1943-February-19 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Thomas Alfred Berwick 2024-12-04 1943-February-19 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Ralph William Darlington 2024-12-04 1943-February-19 KIA RAFVR Flight Sergeant Ernest John Walter Davis 2024-12-21 1943-February-19 PoW Early Release RCAF Flight Sergeant Howard Wallace Fullard 2025-01-16 1943-February-19 PoW RAFVR Warrant Officer John Arthur Jones-Ford 2024-12-21 1943-February-19 PoW RAFVR Warrant Officer James Vaughan 2024-12-04 Lancaster ED493, Mk.I/III
s/n ED493
Avro
ED 493
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED494, Mk.I/III
s/n ED494
Avro
ED 494
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED495, Mk.I/III
s/n ED495
Avro
ED 495
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED496, Mk.I/III
s/n ED496
Avro
ED 496
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED497, Mk.I/III
s/n ED497
Avro
ED 497
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED498, Mk.I/III
s/n ED498
Avro
ED 498
Merlin
Lancaster ED499, Mk.I/III
s/n ED499
Avro
ED 499
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-October-18 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Stanley George Barlegs 2024-11-09 1943-October-18 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Norman Beer 2024-11-10 1943-October-18 KIA RCAF Flying Officer Howard James Gould 2024-12-18 1943-October-18 KIA RAFVR Flight Sergeant John William Grain 2024-12-18 1943-October-18 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Oswald William Douglas Hodges 2024-12-18 1943-October-18 KIA RAFVR Flying Officer Stanley David Smith 2024-12-18 1943-October-18 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Leon Abraham Titof 2024-12-18 Lancaster ED500, Mk.I/III
s/n ED500
Avro
ED 500
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED501, Mk.I/III
s/n ED501
Avro
ED 501
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED502, Mk.I/III
s/n ED502
Avro
ED 502
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED503, Mk.I/III
s/n ED503
Avro
ED 503
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED504, Mk.I/III
s/n ED504
Avro
ED 504
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED520, Mk.I/III
s/n ED520
Avro
ED 520
Merlin
Lancaster ED521, Mk.I/III
s/n ED521
Avro
ED 521
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED522, Mk.I/III
s/n ED522
Avro
ED 522
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED523, Mk.I/III
s/n ED523
Avro
ED 523
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED524, Mk.I/III
s/n ED524
Avro
ED 524
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-04-03 to 1943-04-03
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, England
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 524 was shot down at Dusseldorf, Germany. Six RAF members of the crew, F/0.s T. Dring, H. North, J. Stewart, Sgt.s W.Johnson, D.J. Robinson, L.T. Fulcher, and S/L. A. Paape were also killed.Lancaster ED525, Mk.I/III
s/n ED525
Avro
ED 525
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1943-02-19 to 1943-02-19
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesofrd, England
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 535 failed to return from an attack against Wilhelmshaven, Germany. F/0, W.K. Komaiko, and five RAF members of the crew, Sgt.s R. Bailey, R. King, G. McLoughlin, J. Turner, and F/L. J. Michie were also killed.Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1943-02-19 to 1943-02-20
467 () () RAF Bottesford, England
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 525 failed to return from an attack against Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RCAF F/0 W.K. Komaiko and Flt Sergeant H.L. Brown, and five RAF members of the crew, Sgt.s R. Bailey, R. King, G. McLoughlin, J. Turner, and F/L. J. Michie were killed.Lancaster ED526, Mk.I/III
s/n ED526
Avro
ED 526
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Nuremberg Germany 1943-02-25 to 1943-02-25
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, England
467 Squadron RAAF (Recidite adversarius atque ferocitea) RAF Bottesford. Lancaster BIII ED 526 PO-J was shot down by flak during an operation against targets in Nuremburg, Germany. The Lancaster crashed near Weisendorf, Bayern, Germany with the loss of the entire crew
Warrant Officer 2nd Class J L B Larin (RCAF), Warrant Officer 2nd Class R S Woolley (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant O G Rowcroft (RAAF), Warrant Officer M P Stewart (RAAF), Sergeant E O'Kane (RAFVR), Sergeant R Wiggins (RAFVR) and Sergeant R M Wylie (RAFVR) were all killed in action
1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Joseph Louis Bernard Larin 2024-06-05 1943-February-25 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Edward O'Kane 2023-11-27 1943-February-25 KIA RAAF Flight Lieutenant Oscar Gladwin Rowcroft 2023-11-27 1943-February-25 KIA RAAF Warrant Officer Maxwell Phillip Stewart 2023-11-27 1943-February-25 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Richard Wiggins 2023-11-27 1943-February-25 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Robert Stanley Woolley 2024-07-12 1943-February-25 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Robert McKenzie Wylie 2023-11-27 Lancaster ED527, Mk.I/III
s/n ED527
Avro
ED 527
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Turin Italy 1943-02-05 to 1943-02-05
(B) Sqn (RAF) Skellingthorpe
188 aircraft - 77 Lancasters - 55 Halifaxes - 50 Stirlings - 6 Wellingtons - 3 Lancasters lost.
156 aircraft reached and bombed Turinn, causing serious and widespread damage. The brief local report states that 29 people were killed and 53 injured.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt50 Squadron (From Defence To Attack). Target - Turin, Italy. Lancaster aircraft ED 527 crashed north-east of Fez, near Ajnoul at Taza, French Morocco.Warrant Officer L.A. Cumming, Sergeant M.S. Napier and four of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed
1943-February-05 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Gerald Macness Bown 2024-11-16 1943-February-05 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer Leonard Allan Cumming 2025-02-15 1943-February-05 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Nelson Earl Holness 2024-02-25 1943-February-05 KIA RNZAF Flying Officer Keith Campbell Johanson 2024-02-25 1943-February-05 KIA RAFVR Sergeant David Livingston 2024-02-25 1943-February-05 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Matthew Simpson Napier 2025-02-15 1943-February-05 KIA RAFVR Sergeant George Robinson 2024-02-25 Lancaster ED528, Mk.I/III
s/n ED528
Avro
ED 528
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED529, Mk.I/III
s/n ED529
Avro
ED 529
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED530, Mk.I/III
s/n ED530
Avro
ED 530
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED531, Mk.I/III
s/n ED531
Avro
ED 531
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED532, Mk.I/III
s/n ED532
Avro
ED 532
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED533, Mk.I/III
s/n ED533
Avro
ED 533
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED534, Mk.I/III
s/n ED534
Avro
ED 534
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED535, Mk.I/III
s/n ED535
Avro
ED 535
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED536, Mk.I/III
s/n ED536
Avro
ED 536
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED537, Mk.I/III
s/n ED537
Avro
ED 537
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED538, Mk.I/III
s/n ED538
Avro
ED 538
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED539, Mk.I/III
s/n ED539
Avro
ED 539
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED540, Mk.I/III
s/n ED540
Avro
ED 540
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED541, Mk.I/III
s/n ED541
Avro
ED 541
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-09-04 to 1943-09-04
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, Lincolnshire, England
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 541 was shot down near Doberitz, Germany whilst engaged in night operations over Berlin, Germany. RCAF FS's. C.M. Niven and R. Lesser, and non-Canadians Sgt.s O.H. Hodges (RAF), L.A. Saunders, (RAAF), F/L. R. Carmichael (RAAF), F/0.s P.E. Henley (RAF), and R.T.J. Bilney (RAF), were killed.Lancaster ED542, Mk.I/III
s/n ED542
Avro
ED 542
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED543, Mk.I/III
s/n ED543
Avro
ED 543
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Pilsen Czechoslovakia 1943-05-13 to 1943-05-14
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) Bottesford UK
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster aircraft ED 543 missing, presumed over target, presumed enemy action. Sergeants W.G. Berry (RAF), H.W. Cox (RAF), B.G. Hickling (RAF), M.B. Squires (RAF), and Flying Officer E.F. Heard (RAF) were also killed. One other member of the crew, not Canadian, missing believed killed.
addendum 2: See page 292. The target was Pilsen, Germany and the other member of the crew to be killed WU P/O. K. Mahoney (RAAF).
Lancaster ED544, Mk.I/III
s/n ED544
Avro
ED 544
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED545, Mk.I/III
s/n ED545
Avro
ED 545
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED546, Mk.I/III
s/n ED546
Avro
ED 546
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED547, Mk.I/III
s/n ED547
Avro
ED 547
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-12-30 to 1943-12-30
467 () ()
Delivered to 467 Australia Squadron 28 Jan 1943. Lancaster aircraft ED 547 crashed five miles south-east of the target Berlin, Germany during night operations. Killed were RCAF Flt. Sgt. F.A. Spencer; five RAF members of the crew, F/0. F. Allen, Sgt. S. Allom, D. Wetherell, R. Yale, R. Evans; and P/O. B. Tait (RAAF).Lancaster ED548, Mk.I/III
s/n ED548
Avro
ED 548
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED549, Mk.I/III
s/n ED549
Avro
ED 549
Merlin
Lancaster ED550, Mk.I/III
s/n ED550
Avro
ED 550
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED551, Mk.I/III
s/n ED551
Avro
ED 551
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED552, Mk.I/III
s/n ED552
Avro
ED 552
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED553, Mk.I/III
s/n ED553
Avro
ED 553
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED554, Mk.I/III
s/n ED554
Avro
ED 554
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED555, Mk.I/III
s/n ED555
Avro
ED 555
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED556, Mk.I/III
s/n ED556
Avro
ED 556
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED557, Mk.I/III
s/n ED557
Avro
ED 557
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED558, Mk.I/III
s/n ED558
Avro
ED 558
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED559, Mk.I/III
s/n ED559
Avro
ED 559
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED560, Mk.I/III
s/n ED560
Avro
ED 560
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED561, Mk.I/III
s/n ED561
Avro
ED 561
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED562, Mk.I/III
s/n ED562
Avro
ED 562
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED563, Mk.I/III
s/n ED563
Avro
ED 563
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED564, Mk.I/III
s/n ED564
Avro
ED 564
Merlin
Lancaster ED565, Mk.I/III
s/n ED565
Avro
ED 565
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED566, Mk.I/III
s/n ED566
Avro
ED 566
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED567, Mk.I/III
s/n ED567
Avro
ED 567
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED568, Mk.I/III
s/n ED568
Avro
ED 568
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED569, Mk.I/III
s/n ED569
Avro
ED 569
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED583, Mk.I/III
s/n ED583
Avro
ED 583
Merlin
Lancaster ED584, Mk.I/III
s/n ED584
Avro
ED 584
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED585, Mk.I/III
s/n ED585
Avro
ED 585
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED586, Mk.I/III
s/n ED586
Avro
ED 586
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED587, Mk.I/III
s/n ED587
Avro
ED 587
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED588, Mk.I/III
s/n ED588
Avro
ED 588
Merlin
The crew of Lancaster aircraft ED 588 were engaged in a night bomb attack against Konigsberg, Germany when they crashed at Vittsjo, Sweden and the bomb load exploded. Sergeants R.W. Bysouth (RAF), W.R. Campbell (RAF), R.H. Clifford (RAF), F.G. Plowman (RAF), Flying Officer A.H. Carver (RAF), and one other member of the crew, not Canadian, were also killed.
There is a Claim by Maj Werner Husemann Stab I/NJG3 -East of Halsingborg (LG - LH): 3,300m at 00:48. in the (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 4 - Theo Boiten), Not verified. (Source John Jones UK)
last update: 2025-February-05Lancaster ED589, Mk.I/III
s/n ED589
Avro
ED 589
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED590, Mk.I/III
s/n ED590
Avro
ED 590
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED591, Mk.I/III
s/n ED591
Avro
ED 591
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED592, Mk.I/III
s/n ED592
Avro
ED 592
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED593, Mk.I/III
s/n ED593
Avro
ED 593
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED594, Mk.I/III
s/n ED594
Avro
ED 594
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED595, Mk.I/III
s/n ED595
Avro
ED 595
Merlin
Lancaster ED596, Mk.I/III
s/n ED596
Avro
ED 596
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED597, Mk.I/III
s/n ED597
Avro
ED 597
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED598, Mk.I/III
s/n ED598
Avro
ED 598
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED599, Mk.I/III
s/n ED599
Avro
ED 599
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED600, Mk.I/III
s/n ED600
Avro
ED 600
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED601, Mk.I/III
s/n ED601
Avro
ED 601
Merlin
Lancaster ED602, Mk.I/III
s/n ED602
Avro
ED 602
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED603, Mk.I/III
s/n ED603
Avro
ED 603
Merlin
Lancaster ED604, Mk.I/III
s/n ED604
Avro
ED 604
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED605, Mk.I/III
s/n ED605
Avro
ED 605
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED606, Mk.I/III
s/n ED606
Avro
ED 606
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED607, Mk.I/III
s/n ED607
Avro
ED 607
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED608, Mk.I/III
s/n ED608
Avro
ED 608
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED609, Mk.I/III
s/n ED609
Avro
ED 609
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED610, Mk.I/III
s/n ED610
Avro
ED 610
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED611, Mk.I/III
s/n ED611
Avro
ED 611
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED612, Mk.I/III
s/n ED612
Avro
ED 612
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED613, Mk.I/III
s/n ED613
Avro
ED 613
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED614, Mk.I/III
s/n ED614
Avro
ED 614
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED615, Mk.I/III
s/n ED615
Avro
ED 615
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED616, Mk.I/III
s/n ED616
Avro
ED 616
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED617, Mk.I/III
s/n ED617
Avro
ED 617
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED618, Mk.I/III
s/n ED618
Avro
ED 618
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-04-09 to 1943-04-10
101 () Sqn (RAF)
101 Squadron (Mens Agitat Molem). Lancaster aircraft ED 618 missing over enemy-held territory during night operations. FSs S. Grundy D.F.M. (RAF), M.J. Bennett (RAF), Sergeants J. Hence (RAF), D. Gould (RAF), and W.D. O'Brien (RAF), and Flying Officer N.J. Ritchie (RAAF) were also killed.Lancaster ED619, Mk.I/III
s/n ED619
Avro
ED 619
Merlin
Lancaster ED620, Mk.I/III
s/n ED620
Avro
ED 620
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED621, Mk.I/III
s/n ED621
Avro
ED 621
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED622, Mk.I/III
s/n ED622
Avro
ED 622
Merlin
Lancaster ED623, Mk.I/III
s/n ED623
Avro
ED 623
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED624, Mk.I/III
s/n ED624
Avro
ED 624
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED625, Mk.I/III
s/n ED625
Avro
ED 625
Merlin
Lancaster ED626, Mk.I/III
s/n ED626
Avro
ED 626
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED627, Mk.I/III
s/n ED627
Avro
ED 627
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED628, Mk.I/III
s/n ED628
Avro
ED 628
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED629, Mk.I/III
s/n ED629
Avro
ED 629
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED630, Mk.I/III
s/n ED630
Avro
ED 630
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED631, Mk.I/III
s/n ED631
Avro
ED 631
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED645, Mk.I/III
s/n ED645
Avro
ED 645
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED646, Mk.I/III
s/n ED646
Avro
ED 646
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED647, Mk.I/III
s/n ED647
Avro
ED 647
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED648, Mk.I/III
s/n ED648
Avro
ED 648
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED649, Mk.I/III
s/n ED649
Avro
ED 649
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED650, Mk.I/III
s/n ED650
Avro
ED 650
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED651, Mk.I/III
s/n ED651
Avro
ED 651
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED652, Mk.I/III
s/n ED652
Avro
ED 652
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED653, Mk.I/III
s/n ED653
Avro
ED 653
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED654, Mk.I/III
s/n ED654
Avro
ED 654
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED655, Mk.I/III
s/n ED655
Avro
ED 655
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED656, Mk.I/III
s/n ED656
Avro
ED 656
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED657, Mk.I/III
s/n ED657
Avro
ED 657
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED658, Mk.I/III
s/n ED658
Avro
ED 658
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED659, Mk.I/III
s/n ED659
Avro
ED 659
Merlin
Lancaster ED660, Mk.I/III
s/n ED660
Avro
ED 660
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED661, Mk.I/III
s/n ED661
Avro
ED 661
Merlin
Lancaster ED662, Mk.I/III
s/n ED662
Avro
ED 662
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED663, Mk.I/III
s/n ED663
Avro
ED 663
Merlin
Lancaster ED664, Mk.I/III
s/n ED664
Avro
ED 664
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED665, Mk.I/III
s/n ED665
Avro
ED 665
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED666, Mk.I/III
s/n ED666
Avro
ED 666
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED667, Mk.I/III
s/n ED667
Avro
ED 667
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED668, Mk.I/III
s/n ED668
Avro
ED 668
Merlin
Lancaster ED688, Mk.I/III
s/n ED688
Avro
ED 688
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED689, Mk.I/III
s/n ED689
Avro
ED 689
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-07-03 to 1943-07-04
9 (B) Sqn (RAF) Bardney
Battle of the Ruhr
Lancaster aircraft ED 689 lost during night operations against Cologne, Germany. Flying Officer J.B. Reeves (USA) and W/O G.F. Dohaney were killed. The other six crew, not Canadians, are missing and also believed killed.
1943-July-04 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Alec Frederick Backler 2024-11-06 1943-July-04 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 George Francis Dohaney 2024-11-06 1943-July-04 KIA RAF Sergeant Harold Joseph Hawkridge 2024-12-03 1943-July-04 KIA RAFVR Sergeant John Elwyn Owen 2024-10-23 1943-July-04 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Thomas Geoffrey Porter 2024-10-23 1943-July-04 KIA RCAF Flying Officer Jonah Bruce Reeves 2024-10-23 1943-July-04 KIA RAFVR Flight Lieutenant John Alfred Wakeford DFC 2024-10-23 1943-July-04 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Harry Leonard Wilson 2024-10-23 Lancaster ED690, Mk.I/III
s/n ED690
Avro
ED 690
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED691, Mk.I/III
s/n ED691
Avro
ED 691
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED692, Mk.I/III
s/n ED692
Avro
ED 692
Merlin
Lancaster ED693, Mk.I/III
s/n ED693
Avro
ED 693
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED694, Mk.I/III
s/n ED694
Avro
ED 694
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED695, Mk.I/III
s/n ED695
Avro
ED 695
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-05-26 to 1943-05-26
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, Lincolnshire, England
467 Australia Squadron. Target - Dusseldorf, Germany. Lancaster aircraft ED 695 lost whilst engaged in operations over enemy-held territory. RCAF member Flt. Sgt. A.F. Birkbeck and RAF member Pilot Officer K.R. Langhorne were killed. Five of the non-Canadian crew were taken Prisoner of War: Sgt's. R.A. Avann, S.G. Keirs, and W.V. Morris, Pilot Officer P.R. Collins, and Flying Officer R.S. Giddey. Giddy of Gordon, Australia, was the pilot of the aircraft and following is his report of the event. "On this night we had made our way to the target corkscrewing all the way over enemy territory, dropped our bombs then set course for base. Our flight plan called for us to corkscrew out from the target and back to the Dutch coast. When Pilot Officer Collins (Nav.) told us we were over the coast I straightened out and put the nose down into a steep dive thinking we were safe and out of range. It was then the night fighter got us. There was a terrific crash and we were on fire. As we were over the North Sea it would be useless to parachute so I gave orders for ditching and the crew members took their positions. The two gunners, Langhorne and Birkbeck were the only ones not to acknowledge my order which leads me to believe that they must have been killed by the first burst from the night fighter. The smoke and flames obscured the instrument panel and owing to the red glow inside the aircraft I could not distinguish the horizon. I was finally able to see a few houses and realized we had turned back to the Dutch coast. I lifted the nose then flattened out, cut the four engines and as we lost air speed I pulled the control column right back thus stalling the plane and causing it to hit tail first. The initial hit wasn't too bad but the second, when it finally came, was horrific. All five of the crew abandoned the aircraft and took refuge in a barn. We eventually left the area, one at a time, but were captured very soon after. I was free the longest as I didn't get captured until August 8, 1943."Lancaster ED696, Mk.I/III
s/n ED696
Avro
ED 696
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED697, Mk.I/III
s/n ED697
Avro
ED 697
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED698, Mk.I/III
s/n ED698
Avro
ED 698
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED699, Mk.I/III
s/n ED699
Avro
ED 699
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED700, Mk.I/III
s/n ED700
Avro
ED 700
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED701, Mk.I/III
s/n ED701
Avro
ED 701
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED702, Mk.I/III
s/n ED702
Avro
ED 702
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED703, Mk.I/III
s/n ED703
Avro
ED 703
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED704, Mk.I/III
s/n ED704
Avro
ED 704
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED705, Mk.I/III
s/n ED705
Avro
ED 705
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED706, Mk.I/III
s/n ED706
Avro
ED 706
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED707, Mk.I/III
s/n ED707
Avro
ED 707
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED708, Mk.I/III
s/n ED708
Avro
ED 708
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED709, Mk.I/III
s/n ED709
Avro
ED 709
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED710, Mk.I/III
s/n ED710
Avro
ED 710
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED711, Mk.I/III
s/n ED711
Avro
ED 711
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED712, Mk.I/III
s/n ED712
Avro
ED 712
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED713, Mk.I/III
s/n ED713
Avro
ED 713
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED714, Mk.I/III
s/n ED714
Avro
ED 714
Merlin
Lancaster ED715, Mk.I/III
s/n ED715
Avro
ED 715
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED716, Mk.I/III
s/n ED716
Avro
ED 716
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED717, Mk.I/III
s/n ED717
Avro
ED 717
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED718, Mk.I/III
s/n ED718
Avro
ED 718
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED719, Mk.I/III
s/n ED719
Avro
ED 719
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED720, Mk.I/III
s/n ED720
Avro
ED 720
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED721, Mk.I/III
s/n ED721
Avro
ED 721
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED722, Mk.I/III
s/n ED722
Avro
ED 722
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED723, Mk.I/III
s/n ED723
Avro
ED 723
Merlin
Lancaster ED724, Mk.I/III
s/n ED724
Avro
ED 724
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED725, Mk.I/III
s/n ED725
Avro
ED 725
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED726, Mk.I/III
s/n ED726
Avro
ED 726
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED727, Mk.I/III
s/n ED727
Avro
ED 727
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED728, Mk.I/III
s/n ED728
Avro
ED 728
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED729, Mk.I/III
s/n ED729
Avro
ED 729
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED730, Mk.I/III
s/n ED730
Avro
ED 730
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED731, Mk.I/III
s/n ED731
Avro
ED 731
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED732, Mk.I/III
s/n ED732
Avro
ED 732
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED733, Mk.I/III
s/n ED733
Avro
ED 733
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED734, Mk.I/III
s/n ED734
Avro
ED 734
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED735, Mk.I/III
s/n ED735
Avro
ED 735
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Ferry Flight In transit to Coningsby 1943-11-17 to 1943-11-18
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Rabat, Morocco
The aircraft, piloted by Flight Lieutenant EEG Youseman DFC, had landed at Blida, Algeria 
, after the raid on the Antheor Viaduct , on the rail line between France and Italy, on the night of 11/12 November. It subsequently moved to Rabat, Morocco before setting off to return to Coningsby, its base in England . It was routed round the Iberian peninsula and across the Bay of Biscay. However, it ditched in the Atlantic with the loss of all of the crew. It is believed that there were 3 army officers on board as well as the crew.
There were 3 Canadians in the crew: Pilot Officers L Plishka and AM Laughiand DFM and Warrant Officer Class 1 JB O'Grady. With the exception of Flight Sergeant R Florence DFM (RNZAF), the remainder of the crew (Flight Lieutenant EEG Youseman DFC Pilot Officer S Whittingham DFM and Flying Officer W Grimes DFM) were in the RAF.
Lancaster ED736, Mk.I/III
s/n ED736
Avro
ED 736
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED737, Mk.I/III
s/n ED737
Avro
ED 737
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-06-17 to 1943-06-17
467 () () RAF Bottesford, Lincolnshire, England
467 Australia Squadron. Lancaster ED737 took off 2215 16 June 1943 from Bottesford. Shot down by a night-fighter. Casualties included RAF Sgt's. R.L. Godden, K.M. Taylor, N.M. Turnbull, and Flying Officer A. Smith (pilot), and RAAF Flying Officer G.H. Joseph. Sgt. E.V. Doan (RCAF), Flt. Sgt. J.E. Binnie (RAF), and Sgt. E. Lancake (RAF) were taken Prisoners of War.Lancaster ED749, Mk.I/III
s/n ED749
Avro
ED 749
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED750, Mk.I/III
s/n ED750
Avro
ED 750
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED751, Mk.I/III
s/n ED751
Avro
ED 751
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED752, Mk.I/III
s/n ED752
Avro
ED 752
Merlin
Lancaster ED753, Mk.I/III
s/n ED753
Avro
ED 753
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED754, Mk.I/III
s/n ED754
Avro
ED 754
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED755, Mk.I/III
s/n ED755
Avro
ED 755
Merlin
Lancaster ED756, Mk.I/III
s/n ED756
Avro
ED 756
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED757, Mk.I/III
s/n ED757
Avro
ED 757
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED758, Mk.I/III
s/n ED758
Avro
ED 758
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED759, Mk.I/III
s/n ED759
Avro
ED 759
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED760, Mk.I/III
s/n ED760
Avro
ED 760
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED761, Mk.I/III
s/n ED761
Avro
ED 761
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED762, Mk.I/III
s/n ED762
Avro
ED 762
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED763, Mk.I/III
s/n ED763
Avro
ED 763
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED764, Mk.I/III
s/n ED764
Avro
ED 764
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED765, Mk.I/III
s/n ED765
Avro
ED 765
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED766, Mk.I/III
s/n ED766
Avro
ED 766
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-April-11 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Robert George Griffin 2024-05-26 1943-April-11 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class George Russel Holm 2024-05-29 1943-April-11 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 Lawrence Joseph Lalonde 2024-11-01 1943-April-11 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 1st Class John Harold Lemon 2024-06-05 1943-April-11 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Daryl Owen McMahon 2024-06-20 Lancaster ED767, Mk.I/III
s/n ED767
Avro
ED 767
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED768, Mk.I/III
s/n ED768
Avro
ED 768
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-05-26 to 1943-05-26
467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, Lincolnshire, England
467 Australia Squadron. Hit by Flak and crashed 0209 26 May 1943 at _s-Gravenwezel (Antwerpen) 11 km ENE from the centre of Antwerpen where those killed are buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery. Casualties included RAF Sgt's. T. Chalmers and B. Spencer, and RAAF Flt. Sgt. J. M. Parsons. Taken Prisoners of War were RAF Sgt's J.P. Egan, R.A. Hunt, and N.J. Vaulkhard, and RCAF Sgt. J.F. Selman.Lancaster ED769, Mk.I/III
s/n ED769
Avro
ED 769
Merlin
Lancaster ED770, Mk.I/III
s/n ED770
Avro
ED 770
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED771, Mk.I/III
s/n ED771
Avro
ED 771
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED772, Mk.I/III
s/n ED772
Avro
ED 772
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED773, Mk.I/III
s/n ED773
Avro
ED 773
Merlin
Lancaster ED774, Mk.I/III
s/n ED774
Avro
ED 774
Merlin
Lancaster ED775, Mk.I/III
s/n ED775
Avro
ED 775
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED776, Mk.I/III
s/n ED776
Avro
ED 776
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED777, Mk.I/III
s/n ED777
Avro
ED 777
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED778, Mk.I/III
s/n ED778
Avro
ED 778
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
1943-May-13 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Allan Lockwood Home 2021-08-10 1943-May-13 PoW RCAF Flight Sergeant George Brown Leach 2021-04-13 1943-May-13 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Milford Glen Thomas Levins 2021-08-13 1943-May-13 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Hugh Columba MacNeil 2021-08-17 1943-May-13 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer Henry Augustine Sheehan 2021-07-30 Lancaster ED779, Mk.I/III
s/n ED779
Avro
ED 779
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED780, Mk.I/III
s/n ED780
Avro
ED 780
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED781, Mk.I/III
s/n ED781
Avro
ED 781
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED782, Mk.I/III
s/n ED782
Avro
ED 782
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED783, Mk.I/III
s/n ED783
Avro
ED 783
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED784, Mk.I/III
s/n ED784
Avro
ED 784
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED785, Mk.I/III
s/n ED785
Avro
ED 785
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED786, Mk.I/III
s/n ED786
Avro
ED 786
Merlin
Lancaster ED799, Mk.I/III
s/n ED799
Avro
ED 799
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED800, Mk.I/III
s/n ED800
Avro
ED 800
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED801, Mk.I/III
s/n ED801
Avro
ED 801
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED802, Mk.I/III
s/n ED802
Avro
ED 802
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED803, Mk.I/III
s/n ED803
Avro
ED 803
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED804, Mk.I/III
s/n ED804
Avro
ED 804
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED805, Mk.I/III
s/n ED805
Avro
ED 805
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED806, Mk.I/III
s/n ED806
Avro
ED 806
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED807, Mk.I/III
s/n ED807
Avro
ED 807
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED808, Mk.I/III
s/n ED808
Avro
ED 808
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED809, Mk.I/III
s/n ED809
Avro
ED 809
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED810, Mk.I/III
s/n ED810
Avro
ED 810
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED811, Mk.I/III
s/n ED811
Avro
ED 811
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED812, Mk.I/III
s/n ED812
Avro
ED 812
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED813, Mk.I/III
s/n ED813
Avro
ED 813
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED814, Mk.I/III
s/n ED814
Avro
ED 814
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED815, Mk.I/III
s/n ED815
Avro
ED 815
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED816, Mk.I/III
s/n ED816
Avro
ED 816
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED817, Mk.I/III
s/n ED817
Avro
ED 817
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED818, Mk.I/III
s/n ED818
Avro
ED 818
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED819, Mk.I/III
s/n ED819
Avro
ED 819
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED820, Mk.I/III
s/n ED820
Avro
ED 820
Merlin
Lancaster ED821, Mk.I/III
s/n ED821
Avro
ED 821
Merlin
Lancaster ED822, Mk.I/III
s/n ED822
Avro
ED 822
Merlin
Lancaster ED823, Mk.I/III
s/n ED823
Avro
ED 823
Merlin
Lancaster ED824, Mk.I/III
s/n ED824
Avro
ED 824
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED825, Mk.I/III
s/n ED825
Avro
ED 825
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
SOE SOE operation 1943-12-10 to 1943-12-11
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Tempsford
This was one of four aircraft and crews seconded to the Special Operations Executive to work with 138 and 161 Squadrons flying from Tempsford on supply drops to the French Resistance. Piloted by Flying Officer GH Weeden, they left Tempsford at 20:35 on December 10 for a rendezvous in northern France, but were shot down en route by flak near to Meharicourt . All of the crew were killed.
There were 3 members of the RCAF in the crew: Flying Officer GH Weeden, Flight Sergeant EJ Walters and Warrant Officer 2nd Class R Cummings (Wallters was an American serving in the RCAF). The other members of the crew (Sergeant AW Richardson, Pilot Officer RN Jones, Flight Sergeant RG Howell and Sergeant B Robinson) were all in the RAF.
The aircraft crash site was excavated as part of a UK Channel 5 film about "Johnny" Johnson, who had been the bomb aimer in the aircraft when it attacked the Sorpe Dam.
Lancaster ED826, Mk.I/III
s/n ED826
Avro
ED 826
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED827, Mk.I/III
s/n ED827
Avro
ED 827
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED828, Mk.I/III
s/n ED828
Avro
ED 828
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED829, Mk.I/III
s/n ED829
Avro
ED 829
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED830, Mk.I/III
s/n ED830
Avro
ED 830
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED831, Mk.I/III
s/n ED831
Avro
ED 831
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED832, Mk.I/III
s/n ED832
Avro
ED 832
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-09-03 to 1943-09-03
207 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Langar
207 Squadron RAF (Semper Paratus) RAF Langar. Lancaster BIII aircraft ED 832 EM-X failed to return from a raid against targets in Berlin, Germany. Lost without a trace, the cause of loss was not determined
Flight Lieutenant T J D Waterman DFC (RCAF), Flying Officer F G C Spanner DFC (RCAF), Group Captain A F McKenna MiD (RAF), Squadron Leader Ian McArtair Huntly-Wood DFC (RAFVR), Flying Officer K J Knight DFC (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant A J C Whitehead (RAFVR) and Flying Officer J L Young DFM (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action
The missing have no known grave and all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
1943-September-03 KIA RAFVR Squadron Leader Ian McArtair Huntly-Wood DFC 2023-12-09 1943-September-03 KIA RAFVR Flying Officer Kenneth Joseph Knight DFC 2023-12-09 1943-September-03 KIA RAF Group Captain Austin Flower McKenna MiD 2023-12-09 1943-September-03 KIA RCAF Flying Officer Frederick Gordon Charles Spanner DFC 2023-12-09 1943-September-03 KIA RCAF Flight Lieutenant Thomas John Davies Waterman DFC 2023-12-09 1943-September-03 KIA RAFVR Flight Sergeant Arthur John Charles Whitehead 2023-12-09 1943-September-03 KIA RAFVR Flying Officer James Lawson Young DFM 2023-12-09 Lancaster ED833, Mk.I/III
s/n ED833
Avro
ED 833
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED834, Mk.I/III
s/n ED834
Avro
ED 834
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED835, Mk.I/III
s/n ED835
Avro
ED 835
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED836, Mk.I/III
s/n ED836
Avro
ED 836
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED837, Mk.I/III
s/n ED837
Avro
ED 837
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED838, Mk.I/III
s/n ED838
Avro
ED 838
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED839, Mk.I/III
s/n ED839
Avro
ED 839
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED840, Mk.I/III
s/n ED840
Avro
ED 840
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED841, Mk.I/III
s/n ED841
Avro
ED 841
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED842, Mk.I/III
s/n ED842
Avro
ED 842
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED856, Mk.I/III
s/n ED856
Avro
ED 856
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED857, Mk.I/III
s/n ED857
Avro
ED 857
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED858, Mk.I/III
s/n ED858
Avro
ED 858
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED859, Mk.I/III
s/n ED859
Avro
ED 859
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED860, Mk.I/III
s/n ED860
Avro
ED 860
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED861, Mk.I/III
s/n ED861
Avro
ED 861
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED862, Mk.I/III
s/n ED862
Avro
ED 862
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED863, Mk.I/III
s/n ED863
Avro
ED 863
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED864, Mk.I/III
s/n ED864
Avro
ED 864
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Moehne Dam Germany 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
The aircraft (AJ-B) was piloted by Flight Lieutenant "Bill" Astell DFC. It crashed (it hit an electricity pylon) close to Marbeck, Germany at 00:15 on 17 May 1944 en route to the Moehne Dam as part of the first wave attack of operation CHASTISE, the attack on the German Dams.
Canadians Pilot Officer FA Wile, Flight Sergeant FA Garbas and Warrant Officer Class2 A Garshowitz, and four RAF members of the crew (Flight Lieutenant W Astell DFC, Sergeants I Kinnear, R Bolitho, and Flying Officer D Hopkinson) were all killed.
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
1943-May-17 KIA RAFVR Flight Lieutenant William Astell DFC 2025-01-27 1943-May-17 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Richard Bolitho 2024-11-14 1943-May-17 KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Francis Anthony Garbas 2025-01-27 1943-May-17 KIA RCAF Warrant Officer 2 Abram (Albert) Garshowitz 2025-01-27 1943-May-17 KIA RAFVR Flying Officer Donald Hopkinson 2025-01-27 1943-May-17 KIA RAF Sergeant John Kinnear 2025-01-27 1943-May-17 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Floyd Alvin Wile 2025-01-27 Lancaster ED865, Mk.I/III
s/n ED865
Avro
ED 865
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Sorpe Dam Germany 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
Piloted by Pilot Officer LJ Burpee, the aircraft was outbound during Operation CHASTISE, bound for the Sorpe Dam, Germany. It crashed at 01:53 on May 17 near the night fighter base at Gilze-Rijen, Noord Brabant, the Netherlands . It may have been shot down by light Flak of the 5/gemischte Flak-Abteilung 442 and the 3/leichte Flak-Abteilung 848. Conversely, eye witness accounts suggest that that the pilot was blinded by a searchlight and crashed into trees while trying to avoid it. All the crew were killed
Canadians Pilot Officer LJ Burpee DFM, Warrant Officer JL Arthur and Warrant Officer JG Brady were killed in the crash or the subsequent explosion of their UPKEEP weapon, as were Pilot Officer LG Weller (RAFVR), Sergeants T Jaye (RAFVR), WCA Long (RAFVR) and G Pegler (RAF).
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
Lancaster ED866, Mk.I/III
s/n ED866
Avro
ED 866
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED867, Mk.I/III
s/n ED867
Avro
ED 867
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED868, Mk.I/III
s/n ED868
Avro
ED 868
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED869, Mk.I/III
s/n ED869
Avro
ED 869
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED870, Mk.I/III
s/n ED870
Avro
ED 870
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED871, Mk.I/III
s/n ED871
Avro
ED 871
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED872, Mk.I/III
s/n ED872
Avro
ED 872
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED873, Mk.I/III
s/n ED873
Avro
ED 873
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED874, Mk.I/III
s/n ED874
Avro
ED 874
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED875, Mk.I/III
s/n ED875
Avro
ED 875
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED876, Mk.I/III
s/n ED876
Avro
ED 876
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED877, Mk.I/III
s/n ED877
Avro
ED 877
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
1943-May-05 PoW Jack Leslie. Clark DFM 2024-02-25 1943-May-05 KIA RNZAF Flight Lieutenant Edward McLeod Gray DFC 2022-08-27 1943-May-05 PoW RAF Flight Lieutenant Alistair Grant Lang DFC 2022-11-25 1943-May-05 KIA RCAF Pilot Officer Richard John Lee 2022-08-24 1943-May-05 KIA RNZAF Flight Sergeant Desmond George Ridings 2022-08-25 1943-May-05 KIA RAFVR Flight Sergeant Frederick Martin Venn 2022-08-25 1943-May-05 KIA RAFVR Sergeant Neville Henry Wood 2022-08-25 Lancaster ED878, Mk.I/III
s/n ED878
Avro
ED 878
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED879, Mk.I/III
s/n ED879
Avro
ED 879
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED880, Mk.I/III
s/n ED880
Avro
ED 880
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED881, Mk.I/III
s/n ED881
Avro
ED 881
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED882, Mk.I/III
s/n ED882
Avro
ED 882
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED883, Mk.I/III
s/n ED883
Avro
ED 883
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED884, Mk.I/III
s/n ED884
Avro
ED 884
Merlin
Lancaster ED885, Mk.I/III
s/n ED885
Avro
ED 885
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED886, Mk.I/III
s/n ED886
Avro
ED 886
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
SOE SOE supply drop 1943-12-10 to 1943-12-11
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Tempsford
This was one of four aircraft and crews seconded from 617 Squadron to the Special Operations Executive to work with 138 and 161 Squadrons flying from Tempsford on supply drops to the French Resistance. Piloted by Warrant Officer GF Bull, they left Tempsford at 21:12 on December 10 for a rendezvous in northern France, but were shot down en route by flak near to at Terramesnil near to Doullens .
There was one Canadian in the crew, Flight Sergeant DM Thorpe. He was killed, along with Sergeant JMcL Stewart, RAF. Four members of the crew, all RAF (Warrant Officer GF Bull, Flight Sergeant Batey, Sergeants CC Wiltshire and CM Chamberlain), bailed out successfully, although injured. The 7th member of the crew, Flight Sergeant JH McWilliams, RAF, successfully evaded capture.
Lancaster ED887, Mk.I/III
s/n ED887
Avro
ED 887
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing the Moehne Dam 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
The aircraft (AJ-A) was flown by Squadron Leader H Melvin Young, DFC & Bar in the Dams Raid Operation CHASTISE of 16/17 May 1943. The aircraft was the fourth to attack the Moehne Dam , and its UPKEEP bomb was successfully dropped, causing the first breach in the structure. The breach was then enlarged by the UPKEEP of ED906 (AJ-J) captained by Flight LIeutenant DJ Maltby DFC. Young then proceeded to the Eder Dam , where he acted as second in command to Wing Commander Guy Gibson during the attack. After the Eder had been breached by the UPKEEP of Flight Lieutenant LG Knight in ED912 (AJ-N), Young headed for home but the aircraft was shot down into the sea at Castricum-aan Zee, the Netherlands at 02:58 on May 17th. All of the crew perished.
There was one Canadian in the crew, Flying Officer VS MacCausland, All of the others (Squadron Leader Young, Flight Sergeant CW Roberts, and Sergeants LW Nichols, DT Horsfall, GA Yeo and W Ibbotson) were with the RAF.
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
Lancaster ED888, Mk.I/III
s/n ED888
Avro
ED 888
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED904, Mk.I/III
s/n ED904
Avro
ED 904
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED905, Mk.I/III
s/n ED905
Avro
ED 905
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED906, Mk.I/III
s/n ED906
Avro
ED 906
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED907, Mk.I/III
s/n ED907
Avro
ED 907
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED908, Mk.I/III
s/n ED908
Avro
ED 908
Merlin
Lancaster ED909, Mk.I/III
s/n ED909
Avro
ED 909
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED910, Mk.I/III
s/n ED910
Avro
ED 910
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED911, Mk.I/III
s/n ED911
Avro
ED 911
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED912, Mk.I/III
s/n ED912
Avro
ED 912
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED913, Mk.I/III
s/n ED913
Avro
ED 913
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED914, Mk.I/III
s/n ED914
Avro
ED 914
Merlin
Lancaster ED915, Mk.I/III
s/n ED915
Avro
ED 915
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED916, Mk.I/III
s/n ED916
Avro
ED 916
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED917, Mk.I/III
s/n ED917
Avro
ED 917
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED918, Mk.I/III
s/n ED918
Avro
ED 918
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED919, Mk.I/III
s/n ED919
Avro
ED 919
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED920, Mk.I/III
s/n ED920
Avro
ED 920
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED921, Mk.I/III
s/n ED921
Avro
ED 921
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED922, Mk.I/III
s/n ED922
Avro
ED 922
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED923, Mk.I/III
s/n ED923
Avro
ED 923
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED924, Mk.I/III
s/n ED924
Avro
ED 924
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED925, Mk.I/III
s/n ED925
Avro
ED 925
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Moehne Dam Germany 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
The aircraft (AJ-M), piloted by Flight Lieutenant John Hopgood, DFC & Bar, was in the first wave of the attack on the Moehne Dam on the night of 16/17 May 1943. The aircraft was the second to carry out its attack, but was hit by flak as it made its bombing run to drop its Upkeep bomb on the Dam. Hopgood tried to gain height so that the crew could bale out, but only two were successful before the aircraft exploded, at 00:33 on May 17. The aircraft had only been flown for 16 hours.
Flying Officer K Earnshaw (RCAF), Sergeant JW Minchin (RAF), Pilot Officer G Gregory DFM (RAF), and Flight Lieutenant J Hopgood DFC & Bar (RAF) were also killed. P/O. A, Burcher DFM (RAAF) bailed out at near zero feet altitude and was taken Prisoner of War. One Canadian, Pilot Officer JW Fraser, opened his parachute inside the aircraft, was pulled out and was also taken PoW
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
Lancaster ED926, Mk.I/III
s/n ED926
Avro
ED 926
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED927, Mk.I/III
s/n ED927
Avro
ED 927
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Sorpe Dam Germany 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
The aircraft AJ-E was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Robert Barlow DFC RAAF, it was in the second wave of aircraft in operation CHASTISE. It was on the way to the Sorpe Dam , flying at low level, when it flew into a complex of high-tension cables and crashed at 23:50 near Haldern, Germany . All of the crew perished in the crash, but the self-destruct mechanism on their UPKEEP bomb failed to activate, so that the Germans were presented with the weapon undamaged.
There was one Canadian casualty, Flying Officer HS Glinz. Of the other members of the crew, Flight Lieutenant Barlow and Flying Officer CR Williams DFC were RAAF officers. Pilot Officer SL Whillis, Flying Officer PS Burgess, Pilot Officer A. Gillespie DFM and Sergeant JRG Liddell were RAF personnel.
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
Lancaster ED928, Mk.I/III
s/n ED928
Avro
ED 928
Merlin
Lancaster ED929, Mk.I/III
s/n ED929
Avro
ED 929
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED930, Mk.I/III
s/n ED930
Avro
ED 930
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED931, Mk.I/III
s/n ED931
Avro
ED 931
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED932, Mk.I/III
s/n ED932
Avro
ED 932
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED933, Mk.I/III
s/n ED933
Avro
ED 933
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED934, Mk.I/III
s/n ED934
Avro
ED 934
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Sorpe Dam Germany 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 (B) Sqn (RAF) Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
The aircraft (AJ-K), piloted by Pilot Officer Vernon Byers was assigned to the second wave of Lancasters in operation CHASTISE, to attack the Sorpe Dam . It was shot down while crossing Texel, in the Friesian Islands , at 22:57 on May 16 en route to the target, with the loss of all crew.
Canadians in the crew were Pilot Officer VW Byers and Flight Sergeant J McDowell. Five RAF members of the crew, Sergeants A Taylor, J Wilkinson, C Jarvie, Flying Officer J Warner, and Pilot Officer A Whitaker were also killed.
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
Lancaster ED935, Mk.I/III
s/n ED935
Avro
ED 935
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED936, Mk.I/III
s/n ED936
Avro
ED 936
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED937, Mk.I/III
s/n ED937
Avro
ED 937
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Bombing Eder Dam Germany 1943-05-16 to 1943-05-17
617 () () Scampton
Operation Chastise (Dam Buster)
This aircraft (AJ-Z, piloted by Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay DFC) was in the first wave of the squadron on operation Chastise (Dam-busting raid), 16/17 May 1943. It is believed to have suffered damage from the explosion of its UPKEEP weapon during the attack on the Eder Dam and was later shot down at 02:36 near Emmerich, Germany on its return journey. All of the crew were killed. The aircraft had flown only 7 hours.
Canadians in the crew were Flying Officer RA Urquhart DFC and Warrant Officer Second Class AP Cottam. Other members of the crew were Squadron Leader H Maudslay, DFC, Sergeants J. Marriott DFM, N Burrows, Pilot Officer MJD Fuller, and Flying Officer W Tytherleigh DFC, all of whom were RAF.
Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, later called the Dam Busters, using special "bouncing bombs" developed by Barnes Wallis. The Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and of villages in the Eder valley; the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed. An estimated 1,600 civilians "“ about 600 Germans and 1,000 enslaved labourers, mainly Soviet "“ were killed by the flooding. Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured, with 8 aircraft destroyed.
The mission grew out of a concept for a bomb designed by Barnes Wallis, assistant chief designer at Vickers.Wallis had worked on the Vickers Wellesley and Vickers Wellington bombers and while working on the Vickers Windsor, he had also begun work, with Admiralty support, on an anti-shipping bomb, although dam destruction was soon considered. At first, Wallis wanted to drop a 10 long tons (22,000 lb; 10,000 kg) bomb from an altitude of about 40,000 ft (12,000 m), part of the earthquake bomb concept. No bomber aircraft was capable of flying at such an altitude or of carrying such a heavy bomb and although Wallis proposed the six-engined Victory Bomber for this purpose this was rejected. Wallis realized that a much smaller explosive charge would suffice if it exploded against the dam wall under the water but German reservoir dams were protected by heavy torpedo nets to prevent an explosive device from travelling through the water.
Wallis devised a 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) bomb (more accurately, a mine) in the shape of a cylinder, equivalent to a very large depth charge armed with a hydrostatic fuse, designed to be given a backspin of 500 rpm. Dropped at 60 ft (18 m) and 240 mph (390 km/h) from the release point, the mine would skip across the surface of the water before hitting the dam wall as its forward speed ceased. Initially the backspin was intended to increase the range of the mine but it was later realized that it would cause the mine, after submerging, to run down the side of the dam towards its base, thus maximising the explosive effect against the dam.[7] This weapon was code-named Upkeep.
Testing of the concept included blowing up a scale model dam at the Building Research Establishment, Watford, in May 1942 and then the breaching of the disused Nant-y-Gro dam in Wales in July. A subsequent test suggested that a charge of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) exploded 30 ft (9.1 m) under water would breach a full-size dam; crucially this weight would be within the carrying capacity of an Avro Lancaster. The first air drop trials were at Chesil Beach in December 1942; these used a spinning 4 ft 6 in sphere dropped from a modified Vickers Wellington, serial BJ895/G; the same aircraft was used until April 1943 when the first modified Lancasters became available. The tests continued at Chesil Beach and Reculver, often unsuccessfully, using revised designs of the mine and variations of speed and height.
Avro Chief Designer Roy Chadwick adapted the Lancaster to carry the mine. To reduce weight, much of the internal armour was removed, as was the mid-upper (dorsal) gun turret. The dimensions of the mine and its unusual shape meant that the bomb-bay doors had to be removed and the mine hung partly below the fuselage. It was mounted on two crutches and before dropping it was spun by an auxiliary motor. Chadwick also worked out the design and installation of controls and gear for the carriage and release of the mine in conjunction with Barnes Wallis. The Avro Lancaster B Mk IIIs so modified were known as Lancaster B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning).
In February 1943, Air Vice-Marshal Francis Linnell at the Ministry of Aircraft Production thought the work was diverting Wallis from the development of the Vickers Windsor bomber (which did not become operational). Pressure from Linnell via the chairman of Vickers, Sir Charles Worthington Craven, caused Wallis to offer to resign.[12] Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, after a briefing by Linnell also opposed the allocation of his bombers; Harris was about to start the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and Lancasters were just entering service. Wallis had written to an influential intelligence officer, Group Captain Frederick Winterbotham, who ensured that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, heard of the project. Portal saw the film of the Chesil Beach trials and was convinced.[13] On 26 February 1943, Portal over-ruled Harris and ordered that thirty Lancasters were to be allocated to the mission and the target date was set for May, when water levels would be at their highest and breaches in the dams would cause the most damage.[14] With eight weeks to go, the larger Upkeep mine that was needed for the mission and the modifications to the Lancasters had yet to be designed.
The operation was given to No. 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the dams mission. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of more than 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from 5 Group squadrons. The crews included RAF personnel of several nationalities, members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 mi (8 km) north of Lincoln.
The targets selected were the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam, upstream from the Ruhr industrial area, with the Eder Dam on the Eder River, which feeds into the Weser, as a secondary target. The loss of hydroelectric power was important but the loss of water to industry, cities and canals would have greater effect and there was potential for devastating flooding if the dams broke.
Bombing from an altitude of 60 ft (18 m), at an air speed of 240 mph (390 km/h) and at set distance from the target called for expert crews. Intensive night-time and low-altitude training began. There were also technical problems to solve, the first one being to determine when the aircraft was at optimum distance from its target. The Möhne and Eder Dams had towers at each end. A special targeting device with two prongs, making the same angle as the two towers at the correct distance from the dam, showed when to release the bomb. (The BBC documentary Dambusters Declassified (2010) stated that the pronged device was not used, owing to problems related to vibration and that other methods were employed, including a length of string tied in a loop and pulled back centrally to a fixed point in the manner of a catapult.)
The second problem was determining the aircraft's altitude, as barometric altimeters lacked accuracy. Two spotlights were mounted, one under the aircraft's nose and the other under the fuselage, so that at the correct height their light beams would converge on the surface of the water. The crews practised at the Eyebrook Reservoir, near Uppingham, Rutland; Abberton Reservoir near Colchester; Derwent Reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District; and Fleet Lagoon on Chesil Beach. Wallis's bomb was first tested at the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The squadron took delivery of the bombs on 13 May, after the final tests on 29 April. At 18:00 on 15 May, at a meeting in Whitworth's house, Gibson and Wallis briefed the squadron's two flight commanders, Squadron Leader Henry Maudslay and Sqn Ldr H. M. "Dinghy" Young, Gibson's deputy for the Möhne attack, Flt Lt John V. Hopgood and the squadron bombing leader, Flight Lieutenant Bob Hay. The rest of the crews were told at a series of briefings the following day, which began with a briefing of pilots, navigators and bomb-aimers at about midday.
Formation No. 1 was composed of nine aircraft in three groups (listed by pilot): Gibson, Hopgood and Flt Lt H. B. "Micky" Martin (an Australian serving in the RAF); Young, Flt Lt David Maltby and Flt Lt Dave Shannon (RAAF); and Maudslay, Flt Lt Bill Astell and Pilot Officer Les Knight (RAAF). Its mission was to attack the Möhne; any aircraft with bombs remaining would then attack the Eder.
Formation No. 2, numbering five aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Joe McCarthy (an American serving in the RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Byers (RCAF),[15] Flt Lt Norman Barlow (RAAF), Pilot Officer Geoff Rice[16] and Flt Lt Les Munro (RNZAF), was to attack the Sorpe.
Formation No. 3 was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Cyril Anderson, Flt Sergeant Bill Townsend, Flt Sergeant Ken Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer Warner Ottley and Pilot Officer Lewis Burpee (RCAF), taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
Two crews were unable to make the mission owing to illness.
source: Wikipedia
Lancaster ED938, Mk.I/III
s/n ED938
Avro
ED 938
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED939, Mk.I/III
s/n ED939
Avro
ED 939
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED940, Mk.I/III
s/n ED940
Avro
ED 940
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED941, Mk.I/III
s/n ED941
Avro
ED 941
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED942, Mk.I/III
s/n ED942
Avro
ED 942
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED943, Mk.I/III
s/n ED943
Avro
ED 943
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED944, Mk.I/III
s/n ED944
Avro
ED 944
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED945, Mk.I/III
s/n ED945
Avro
ED 945
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED946, Mk.I/III
s/n ED946
Avro
ED 946
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED947, Mk.I/III
s/n ED947
Avro
ED 947
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED948, Mk.I/III
s/n ED948
Avro
ED 948
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED949, Mk.I/III
s/n ED949
Avro
ED 949
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED950, Mk.I/III
s/n ED950
Avro
ED 950
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED951, Mk.I/III
s/n ED951
Avro
ED 951
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED952, Mk.I/III
s/n ED952
Avro
ED 952
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED953, Mk.I/III
s/n ED953
Avro
ED 953
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED960,
s/n ED960
ED 960
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED967, Mk.I/III
s/n ED967
Avro
ED 967
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED968, Mk.I/III
s/n ED968
Avro
ED 968
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED969, Mk.I/III
s/n ED969
Avro
ED 969
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED970, Mk.I/III
s/n ED970
Avro
ED 970
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED971, Mk.I/III
s/n ED971
Avro
ED 971
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED972, Mk.I/III
s/n ED972
Avro
ED 972
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED973, Mk.I/III
s/n ED973
Avro
ED 973
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED974, Mk.I/III
s/n ED974
Avro
ED 974
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED975, Mk.I/III
s/n ED975
Avro
ED 975
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED976, Mk.I/III
s/n ED976
Avro
ED 976
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED977, Mk.I/III
s/n ED977
Avro
ED 977
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED978, Mk.I/III
s/n ED978
Avro
ED 978
Merlin
Lancaster ED979, Mk.I/III
s/n ED979
Avro
ED 979
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED980, Mk.I/III
s/n ED980
Avro
ED 980
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED981, Mk.I/III
s/n ED981
Avro
ED 981
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED982, Mk.I/III
s/n ED982
Avro
ED 982
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED983, Mk.I/III
s/n ED983
Avro
ED 983
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED984, Mk.I/III
s/n ED984
Avro
ED 984
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED985, Mk.I/III
s/n ED985
Avro
ED 985
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED986, Mk.I/III
s/n ED986
Avro
ED 986
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED987, Mk.I/III
s/n ED987
Avro
ED 987
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED988, Mk.I/III
s/n ED988
Avro
ED 988
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED989, Mk.I/III
s/n ED989
Avro
ED 989
Merlin
Lancaster ED990, Mk.I/III
s/n ED990
Avro
ED 990
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED991, Mk.I/III
s/n ED991
Avro
ED 991
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED992, Mk.I/III
s/n ED992
Avro
ED 992
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED993, Mk.I/III
s/n ED993
Avro
ED 993
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED994, Mk.I/III
s/n ED994
Avro
ED 994
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED995, Mk.I/III
s/n ED995
Avro
ED 995
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED996, Mk.I/III
s/n ED996
Avro
ED 996
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED997, Mk.I/III
s/n ED997
Avro
ED 997
Merlin
last update: 2025-February-05
Lancaster ED998, Mk.I/III
s/n ED998
Avro
ED 998
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Lancaster ED999, Mk.I/III
s/n ED999
Avro
ED 999
Merlin
last update: 2025-March-10
Avro Lancaster
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Avro Type 683 Lancaster
| General Characteristics | ||
| Crew: | 7 (typical) | |
| Length: | 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) | |
| Wingspan: | 102 ft 0 in (31.09 m) | |
| Height: | 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) | |
| Wing area: | 1,300 sq ft (120 m2) | |
| Aerofoil: | Root: NACA 23018. Tip: NACA 23012 | |
| Empty weight: | 36,900 lb (16,738 kg) | |
| Max takeoff weight: | 72,000 lb (32,657 kg) | |
| Fuel capacity: | 2,154 imp gal (9,792 L) | |
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| Powerplants: | Lancaster Mk.I, III, VI, VII & X:
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| Propellers: | Lancaster Mk.I, III, VI, VII & X:
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| Bomb loads: | Typical:
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Ventral Turrets
As originally designed the Lancaster was provided with ventral defence in the form of a Nash and Thompson FN64 turret, which was fitted to some early production aircraft. However, in common with all other periscope sighted ventral turrets, the narrow viewing angle made it almost impossible for gunners to acquire and track targets, and the few turrets which were installed were soon removed from service.
The ventral .50 inch (50 calib) was approved as Lanc Mod.925 during February 1944, and was one of a number of unsuccessful measures taken to counter night fighter attacks from below.
The growth of the Luftwaffe night fighter force was followed by an increase in the in the number of attacks from below, exacerbated from August 1943 onward by the introduction of aircraft equipped with Schrage Musik upward firing 20mm cannon. A number of responses were considered by Bomber Command including a free mounted ventral .50 calibre Browning machine gun, which was approved on the Lancaster as Modification 925 during February 1944.
The modification was very basic, consisting of little more than an enlarged bicycle seat for the gunner and a simple free mounted gun with open sights which fired through the ventral turret/H2S aperture. On aircraft with bulged bomb doors the mounting (often unpainted) was incorporated into the fairing at the rear of the doors.
Non-H2S fitted aircraft were sporadically equipped with the gun from February 1944 onward, although a clear plan for installation appears to have been lacking. The quantity of aircraft which actually had the gun installed is unknown and photos of the mounting with a Browning actually installed are very rare.
Serious problems quickly became apparent, as noted in the following V Group monthly newsletter for April 1944:- "With the gunner strapped in his seat it is difficult to follow the gun round on the beam; it is difficult for the gunner to get his head down behind the sight as it tends to push the oxygen mask upwards on the gunners face; and also considerable vibration is experienced on the sight when the gun is fired."
These problems, plus the gradually more widespread introduction of H2S saw the gun fall out of use quite quickly, although it does appear to have been retained on some aircraft until war's end (most notably in 3 Group).
The quantity of aircraft which actually had the gun installed is unknown and photos of the mounting with a Browning actually installed are very rare.
Notice on these aircraft the extra position in the eight person crew of Mid-Under-Gunner.