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Lucas, Leslie John (Sergeant)

Prisoner of War 1944-July-08

Male Head

Birth Date: 1921-January-01 (age 23)

Service
RAFVR
Unit
106 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Pro Libertate For freedom
Base
RAF Metheringham
Rank
Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Flight Engineer
Service Numbers
1873332
PoW: 8103

Lancaster Mk.I ME789

Bombing Saint-Leu-de-Esserent 1944-July-07 to 1944-July-08

106 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Metheringham

106 Squadron (Pro Libertate) RAF Metheringham. Lancaster Mk I ME 789 ZN-B was lost during an attack on the V-1 flying-bomb storage site at Saint-Leu-d-Esserent, France. The Lancaster was shot down by flak and abandoned by the crew near Gournay-en-Bray, France

Flying Officer Gordon Stanley Mather (RCAF), Flying Officer John Sargent Kingston (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant William Stewart (RAFVR) all survived and were captured to become Prisoners of War

Pilot Officer John Crawford (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant William Arthur Waldram (RCAF) and Sergeant Leslie John Lucas (RAFVR) all evaded for a time but all were captured and all three were among 168 Allied Airmen deported to Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany. The three were eventually sent to Prisoner of War Camps after the German Luftwaffe intervened

Flying Officer Donald Angus Evans (RCAF) survived and avoided capture as an Evader

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General 07/08 07 1944 106 Squadron Lancaster I ME789 ZN-B Flying Officer Gordon S Mather

General Search for France-Crashes 39-45

Sergeant Leslie John Lucas (RAFVR) evaded for a time until arrested in Paris and was one of 168 Allied Airmen imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp until the German Luftwaffe intervened and had these prisoners moved to Luftwaffe controlled POW camps. Lucas was sent to Stalag Luft 3 where he remained until liberation

168 Jump Into Hell, A True Story of Betrayed Allied Airmen by Arthur G Kinnis and Stanley Booker, page 136

Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock, page 348

Target
Google MapSaint-Leu-d'Esserent France

Lancaster ME789

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
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

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I ME789

ZNRAF RoundelB
Delivered to No. 106 Sqn 9 May 1944. Missing on operation to St. Leu d'Esserent 7/8 Jul 1944.

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