ME854

Lancaster Mk. I

A.V.Roe

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Initial record to be updated when first event found

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-J²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

Change of Sqn Code based on Flight Record created

UL-D²

MIMOYECQUES

Plt Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: V3 cannon construction site. Load: 18x 500lb bombs.

SAINTES

Plt Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Marshalling yards. Load: Either 10x 1000lb, 2x 500lb bombs for H2S-equipped aircraft, or 10x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs for all other aircraft. It appears Costigan, the crew's normal mid-upper gunner did not fly this trip as it is not entered in his logbook. It is unknown who took his place.

FLERS

Plt Off W.R. Ireland

Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ launch site. Load: 18x 500lb bombs.

CHATEAU DE BERNAPRE

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: V1 flying bomb launch site. Load: 10x 500lb bombs.

DOMLEGER

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: V1 flying bomb storage and supply depot. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

OISEMONT / NEUVILLE AU BOIS

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: V1 flying bomb launch site. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

DOMLEGER

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: V1 flying bomb storage and supply depot. Load 7x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

ORLEANS

Plt Off R.E. Linklater

Target: Marshalling yards.

DIJON

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Marshalling yards. Load: H2S aircraft: 8x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs; all other aircraft: 8x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Diverted to Coningsby on return due to low cloud at Elsham Wolds.

CAEN

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Enemy armour strongpoint and stores on the Northern outskirts of Caen. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the Anglo-Canadian ground forces attack on the town (Operation CHARNWOOD)

REVIGNY

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Railway marshalling yards. Load: 7x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The Deputy Master Bomber instructed all aircraft to return to base with their bombloads ( codeword 'Lysol') as low cloud was obscuring the target. Target marking was conducted by the 1 Group Special Duties Flight based at Binbrook. The crew were diverted to Lindholme due to poor weather at Elsham.

SANNERVILLE

Flt Sgt A.d.L. Greig

Target: Area 'H' - fortified positions occupied by enemy Panzer regiments. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the British Second Army involved in Operation GOODWOOD. Strong fighter escort provided.

SCHOLVEN / BUER

Flt Sgt A.d.L. Greig

Target: Synthetic oil refinery near Gelsenkirchen. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 10x 500lb bombs (Mason states 1x 4000lb, 11x 1000lb bombs). Fuel load: 1500 gallons. The starboard outer engine was hit by flak and caught fire. Engine feathered and the crew returned on three engines. Twenty-seven holes were counted in the wings and fuselage. The aircraft is listed as B2 in the ORB but as D2 in Mason's logbook and diary.

WIZERNES

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Construction site for a V2 rocket site and bunker complex ‘La Coupole’. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

KIEL

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: German Navy base, canal, and harbour. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 8x 500lb bombs, 5x 500lb ‘J’ Type incendiary cluster, or 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs

STUTTGART

Flt Sgt A.d.L. Greig

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 2000lb bomb and 12x J-Type incendiary clusters, each containing 14x 30lb incediaries. Returned early due to instrument failure.

BELLE CROIX LES BRUYERES (BAUDRINGHEM)

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: V1 flying bomb launch site. Load: 12x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The Master Bomber ordered all aircraft to return to base with their bombloads due to cloud cover over the target.

PAUILLAC

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Oil storage depot. Load: 9x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs.

BLAYE

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Oil storage depot. Load: 9x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs. The attack was given a Mosquito and Spitfire escort. Diverted to Worksop due to poor weather at Elsham.

FONTENAY-LE-MARMION

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Concentration of enemy armour in battle area near Caen. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Five Squadron aircraft in the final stage of the attack were instructed not to bomb and to return to base with their bombloads as the Aiming Point became obscured by smoke & dust. All other aircraft carried out their attacks.

PARIS (DUGNY)

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Aviation fuel storage depot. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The attack was given a Spitfire escort.

DOUAI

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

BORDEAUX

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Oil storage facilities and U-Boat pens. Load: 6x 2000lb bombs. The attack was given a Mosquito and Spitfire escort.

FALAISE

Sqn Ldr B.A. Templeman-Rooke

Target: Enemy ground positions in the Falaise Gap Load: 11x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs

FONTAINE LE PIN

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Enemy positions in the Normandy battle area. Load: 20x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the 3rd Canadian Division, which was advancing on Falaise.

STETTIN

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Port and industrial areas. Load: 2x 2000lb bombs and 12x 500 'J'-Type incendiary clusters.

EINDHOVEN

Plt Off K.L. Trent

Target: Enemy-held airfield. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Spitfire escort provided.

LE HAVRE

Plt Off K.L. Trent

Target: Enemy strongpoints and pockets of resistance around the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. DID NOT TAKE OFF as the aircraft was not bombed up in time.

LE HAVRE

Plt Off K.L. Trent

Target: Enemy strongpoints & pockets of resistance around the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x500lb bombs.

LE HAVRE

Plt Off K.L. Trent

Target: Enemy strongpoints to the north of the town & pockets of resistance. Load 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. DID NOT TAKE OFF due to a faulty bombsight. The aircraft was replaced by UL-V2.

LE HAVRE

Plt Off K.L. Trent

Target: Enemy strongpoint ½ mile southwest of the Forêt de Montgeon. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

FRANKFURT

Fg Off A.J. Aldridge

Target: Marshalling Yards. Load: 10x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs. UL-D2 opened attack as Supporter with UL-A2, one of two aircraft from 576 Squadron briefed to act as Pathfinder Assistants. ME854 was probably shot down by an enemy nightfighter on it's way to the target, however there is still uncertainty as to the cause. There are two possibilities for the fate of the aircraft, however it does seem probable that the aircraft was hit by flak some time before it was downed. This comes from the report of a German flak battery. Originally, it was believed that the aircraft had collided with another Lancaster, PD262 of 218 Squadron. This is based on an eyewitness account and the fact that the wreckage of both aircraft and their crews were found in exactly the same location in Gundersheim. It later became apparent from Luftwaffe records that Hptm. Martin Becker, flying a Bf-110, claimed two Lancasters shot down at 2245 and 2253 that night. There appear to be only two aircraft lost in that area so it can be assumed that the two aircraft claimed by Becker were ME854 and PD262. His second claim for that night stated that the Lancaster had been 'coned' and already damaged with numerous holes in the fuselage and tail empennage, however it remains uncertain whether this aircraft was ME854 or PD262.

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