Short Stirling & RAF Bomber Command Forum

I'm hoping that someone might be able to provide a few further details on the loss of this Lancaster, one of the modified variants used on the dams raid.

It was extensively damaged on that operation, but upon return, was repaired and generally flown by Pilot Officer Geoff Rice on practice flights. Its history after the end of 1943 is a bit vague, but it is recorded on its movement card as being Struck Off Charge on July 28th 1944 after being categorised E1 (Aircraft is a write-off but considered suitable for component recovery), suggesting it was something like a crash landing, where no fire broke out and many parts were able to be retrieved.

Unfortunately the loss card and accident card dont appear to survive anywhere, so I am at a loss to know the reason for the SOC. It seems it was still with 617 Squadron, who were then based at RAF Woodhall Spa. However, nothing appears in the Woodhall ORB about its loss. Some of the modified Lancs had been flown to RAF Metheringham but nothing appears in the ORB for that station either to indicate it happened there, and I've found no record to confirm it was flown there. Also, I have no record of and fatalities or casualties amongst any crew.

Can anyone confirm any details of its loss or know where the Loss or accident cards might be?

May I suggest you take a look at Air14/3463 "Summary of Aircraft Damaged on Day & Night Operations "

I have this document from wait for it......... July 29th/30th the attack on Villers Bocage. Copy below. I have all the No.3 Group operations from August 1944 to May 1945, They make very interesting reading and include details often overlooked within the ORB. Some of the raid details include other "lesser" Group details .

Regards

Steve

PS : sorry for the attached, bad light and one too many single malts.

Steve

Thanks for that, very interesting and not a document I've seen before. Does it only refer to aircraft involved in operations? ED936 wasnt as far as I'm aware, although if it covers all, it might well feature.

Regards

Alex

Steve,
Thats a very interesting document. It seems to show about 23 aircraft were damaged by splinters of their own bombs.
Do you know what altitude they were bombing from ?

Wayne.

Hi Wayne,

No sorry mate, no without referring to the ORB's.

Steve

Hi,
I've got 4 of the ORB's listed in the report, can't stop now as i'm off out, but i'll have a look later this evening. As for ED936, the ORB is no help, no mention of anything at all.

Just had a quick look at 626sqdn ORB before going out, and if the other squadrons did the same, it's no wonder they were hit by their own splinters. They were bombing from as little as 1400ft.
Alan.

Hi Alan

Thanks for looking, its a real mystery that one.

Alex

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the bombing height, very interesting.
It must have been an impressive sight to see all those aircraft flying so low.

Wayne.