I had a gentleman by the name of Terry supply me with Form 540's for part there of 1944. Truth is they cover a lot of my fathers operations, ( second half ) right through to when they were screened. I've noticed that they only mention the RAF crew members being screened, not the RAAF or RNZAF members, who would have returned to their homeland. The fourth page shows which crews left, etc.
Details courtesy of Sharyn Meace.
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
Richard, 'X' was my fathers' aircraft. They had flown it for 9 ops straight, including that day but then it was lost that night so they had to fly in 'Q' the next day.
I have spoken with a gentleman in Perth, Australia, whose father ( Sgt. J. Stones ) flew in 'X' that night and had to bale out. 3 crew were lost, four baled out and survived.
I told him Dad was not happy to lose their favourite Lanc.
John
from Chorleys RAF Losses ...........
Lancaster LM537 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number LM537
Squadron 630
X1D LE-X
Operation Revigny
Date 1 18th July 1944
Date 2 19th July 1944
Further Information
"Serial range LM301 - LM756 This aircraft was one of 350 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Yeadon) as Mk.111s except for the first ten as Mk.1s (LM301- LM310), delivered from Oct42 to Oct44. mk.1s had Merlin 20 engines and the Mk.111s Merlin 38 engines initially installed. LM537 was a Mk.111 andwas delivered to 630 Sqdn 25Apr44. Incomplete operational history. However, it is recorded that LM537 took part in the operaion against Wesseling 21/22Jun44, and that when lost against Revigny had a total of 175 hours. LM537 was one of four 630 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: LM117; ME796; PB236 Airborne 2250 18Jul44 from East Kirkby to destroy a railway junction. Hit by Flak and crashed around 0200 19Jul44 at Chassericourt (Aube), 16 km NNE of Brienne-le-Chateau. Those killed are buried in the churchyard at Chassericourt. F/O P.B.Dennett RAAF KIA Sgt G.A.Alexander PoW F/S C.R.Jerwood KIA Sgt H.P.Ritchie RCAF Evd Sgt W.J.Jarman KIA Sgt R.A.Hilborne Evd Sgt J.Stones Evd Sgt G.A.Alexander managed to evade after leaving the aircraft but was betrayed and captured 10Aug44. He was icarcerated in Camp L7. PoW No.541
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
