Hello from one interested in RAF Squadron 57

Hi All,

First time here. I've posted most of this in another thread, but thought it would be rude not to be formally introduced.

I'm the daughter of an ex-Lancaster pilot. Just this week my family
discovered that our father's Lanc was most likely shot down by Paul Zorner on the 24th of December '43. It was his 19th "victory" in his career and the third of that night.

Zorner described it in his diary this way: "We continued to search in a south westerly direction and at 05:34 made a new contact flying at an altitude of 6100 metres which turned out to be another Lancaster. We attacked at 05:56 and made another attack minutes later. The bomber caught fire and, after a few seconds, exploded in mid air and crashed to the ground between Cleppenburg and Meppe at 06:02."

My father was the pilot. He said after they were hit he tried to keep the plane level to allow the crew to jump. The plane exploded, however, and the next thing he remembers is waking up in a snowy forest, lying on the ground, no shoes and his parachute open around him. He proceeded to wrap himself in the chute to keep warm and walked until he came to a small town where he was taken prisoner.

If anyone has connections to any of the others in that crew or other info I'd be thrilled to learn of it.

Lancaster JB233 Squadron 57 shot down 24 December '43. P/O H.J.Knights RCAF (my father)POW; Sgt D.A.J.Fisher KIA; F/S I.D.Forsyth RAAF POW; F/S J.Low RCAF POW; Sgt A.E.Eley KIA; Sgt J.McL Adamson RCAF KIA; Sgt R.R.Mutton KIA.

My father came home to marry the girl next door, had 3 boys and one girl (guess who), and was a pioneer of Canadian west coast bush piloting. He was also co-founder and vice-president of Conair Aviation later in his life, in the 1980s said to be the largest private fleet of airplanes in the world, specializing in "fire bombing" - putting out forest fires with chemical retardents, something very necessary in British Columbia. Interestingly the early years of this business in BC was done in Harvards, something my father loved as it reminded him of his training days in the RCAF.

Anyways, very interested in learning anything about his crew members, especially D.A.J. Fisher, who we think is the "Dwayne" my father wanted to name his first son after (my mother boycotted that name, but did compromise on Wayne).

Thanks all. Karen

 

Hello Karen, and welcome! You have given us a great first post and I hope that some of this forum's members will be able to help you in your search. I also hope that you will keep us up to date on your research!

Cheers!

 

Welcome, please enjoy your stay with us.

 

Welcome aboard there
you will enjoy your time here Krieg

 

Hi Karen, welcome to the forum hope you enjoy your time with us.

 

Howdy Karen and welcome to the forum. Glad to have you with us. Happy posting

 

Hi Karen

A long shot as I note that your Enquiry was posted in 2009. I am a volunteer Historical Researcher located in the UK currently researching the names which appear on the War Memorial in the village of Cornwall, 2 miles from the Town of Liskeard in the County of Cornwall, England. Sgt R R Mutton is one of the men of Dobwalls remembered on the War Memorial. I am in currently in active contact with the nephew of Sgt R R Mutton who has been able to supply me with various fascinating documents and photographs including a transcript of the letter that your Father, as the surviving Pilot of the Lancaster Bomber, shot down, in the crash of which Sgt RR Mutton was Killed In Action, wrote to his parents, recounting details of the events of the Night of 23-24th December 1943, and his subsequent return visit to the UK, on his release from a German Prisoner of War Camp, and his efforts to make contact with the families of his lost crew members.
I would love to be able to potentially put you in contact with the Nephew of R R Mutton and his family.