AIRCRAFT PROFILE

Aircraft:

DV333

Type:

Lancaster Mk. I

Contractor:

Metropolitan Vickers

Contract No:

69275/C4

Engines:

Merlin 22

Construction:

One of 94 Mk.I aircraft built by Metropolitan Vickers, Manchester and delivered between September 1942 and May 1943.
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AIRCRAFT HISTORY

Date

Event

Sqn Code

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

u3

06 Oct 1943

Aircraft delivered to A V Roe

Nil

03 Nov 1943

Delivered to 460 Sqn RAAF, Binbrook. Flew three operations, on 03 Nov 43 (Dusseldorf), 10 Nov 43 (Modane - aborted due to technical failure), and 18 Nov 43 (Berlin).

AR-O

18 Nov 1943

Code changed to AR-K2

AR-K2

19 Nov 1943

Delivered to 103 Squadron, Elsham Wolds. Flew two operations: 22 Nov 43 (Berlin) and 26 Nov 43 (Berlin - damaged by flak. Listed on the 103 Sqn ORB as DV330).

PM-

27 Nov 1943

Delivered to 576 Squadron, Elsham Wolds

UL-K2

24 Dec 1943

Code changed to UL-C2

UL-C2

06 Jan 1944

Shot down probably by a night fighter. The aircraft was struck amidships. Four of the eight crew were taken Prisoner of War, but the rest perished. Listed as Cat E 'Missing' and struck off charge.

UL-C2

576 Squadron OPERATIONS

Code

Date

Operation

Captain

Events

UL-K2

02 Dec 1943

BERLIN

Flt Sgt C.J.E. O'Neill

Flown night of 02/03 Dec 43. Target: Built up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1122x 4lb incendiaries.

UL-K2

04 Dec 1943

LEIPZIG

Fg Off R.R. Leeder

Flown night of 03/04 Dec 43. Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries.

UL-C2

24 Dec 1943

BERLIN

Flt Lt E.D. Smith

Flown night of 23/24 Dec 43. Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries.

UL-C2

29 Dec 1943

BERLIN

Flt Lt E.D. Smith

Flown night of 29/30 Dec 43. Target: Built-up area. Load 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 56x 30lb and 1032x 4lb incendiaries

UL-C2

01 Jan 1944

BERLIN

Flt Lt E.D. Smith

Flown night of 31 Dec 43/01 Jan 44. Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 56x 30lb and 1212x 4lb incendiaries.

UL-C2

02 Jan 1944

BERLIN

Flt Lt E.D. Smith

Flown night of 02/03 Jan 44. Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries. Diverted (airfield tbd).

UL-C2

06 Jan 1944

STETTIN

Flt Lt E.D. Smith

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries. The aircraft was attacked and downed by a night fighter on its way to the target. The Loss Card states, ‘A/c was attacked and set on fire by a fighter near Stettin. After diving quickly, a/c pulled out at 6,000’ and Wilkins jumped clear. Wilkins says, ‘I noticed fuselage in front of main spar burning furiously. Unable to see whether Larsen (WOp) had been (_____) but I think it very unlikely that he managed to survive the flames. Failure of intercom: after first fighter attack & contact with rest of crew broken. No information of Dixon (RG).’

NOSE ART
Default Nose Image - Waiting for design

Default Nose Image - Waiting for design

AIRCRAFT IMAGES

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MOVEMENT CARDS

Movement Card front.

Movement Card reverse.

LOSS CARDS

Loss Card front.

Credit: Dom Howard

Loss Card reverse.

Credit: Dom Howard

LOSS/INCIDENT REPORT

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