Lancaster NF 975

Hello

Just thought I would introduce myself - although I have been on the forum a while back.

I am researching the loss of the above aircraft.

On the night 0f 20 - 21 February 1945 Lancaster I NF 975 UL - J2 of 576 Sqdn took off from Fiskerton to attack Dortmund. The crew were lost without trace.

F/O R S Bastick Pilot, Sgt F G J Martin F/Engr, F/S W G Frost RAAF Nav, F/S W V Bibby B/Aim, F/S J Coates W/Op,Sgt HA Sargent Air Gunner AG Sgt R L Swaffer AG

My late father F/S Douglas Gould was the original Wireless Operator with this crew, but was grounded due to injuries received on a mission to Dortmund in late November 1944. He was due to replace F/S Coates on this mission. F/S Coates may have almost completed his tour.

Richard (Dick) Bastick was a Londoner. Victor (Vic) Bibby was of Welsh origin but had served previously as a policeman in the Derbyshire Force. The two young airgunners: Sergeants Robert (Bob) Swaffer from Kent and Henry Sargent was from London. The navigator Sergeant William ( Bill) Frost came from Sydney, Australia.

The crew, including my father, completed the following missions:

Bochum 4/11/44, Gelsenkirchen 6/11/45, Wanne Eichel 9/11/44, Dortmund 11/11/44, Duren 16/11/44,
Aschaffenburg 21/11/44, Dortmund 29/11/44

F/S J Coates would have replaced my father in the crew at this point.

Gelsenkirchen 29/12/44, Royan 3/1/45, Merseburg 14/1/45, Zeitz 16/1/45, Duisberg 22/1/45, Ludwigshafen 1/2/45
Wiesbaden 2/2/45, Bottrop 3/2/45, Dortmund 20/2/45

From this forum and others I have some very helpful responses. I intend to reconstruct the last mission by trying to track the paths of various aircraft.

 

I'm afraid I can't add anything scholarly, but here's a photo I took of the Fiskerton runway on a Winter's morning...

 

Not much information http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?lang=en&mode=viewentry&e=5718#
I hope your search brings results.

The last night mission to Dortmund. 14 aircraft lost. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dti.gov.uk/warmemorial/ww2/20.htm

Essen was the other target that night. http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,lastmission.html

List of Dortmund missions: http://www.monoculartimes.co.uk/city-tours/research-dortmund/1945.shtml

A considerable number of Luftwaffe Lancaster claims on the 21st, Other experts here might be able to narrow down who might have been operating over the channel or what flak records might correlate with this.
http://lesbutler.co.uk/claims/tonywood.htm

Someone here once posted links to pics of bomber routes for each mission. Wish I could remember who, where.

Fiskerton has an excellent website. The standard to judge all others by:
http://www.fiskertonairfield.org.uk/photo_13.html

 

DrGould,
This can actually be done rather easily. The appendices of some squadron's ORBs contain the routes for all raids. I do not research 576 Squadron so cannot tell you whether theirs does or not. February 1945's Summary of Events and Record of Events for No. 576 Squadron (two separate records) are available for download online for less than four quid each:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=D8415150

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=D8415149

But you can find the routes of all ops from all Groups on any night from the "Form Bs" (Group Operation Orders). Essentially telexes to all bases from HQ Bomber Command tellin g them how may aircraft to put up, what munitions to carry, what routes to take etc etc. Very fascinating stuff.

I do not have the Form B's for February 1945. They are also available at Kew:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=C590232

Note they are not online there and have not been digitized. If you cannot go yourself I can recommend two chaps I use.

Regards,

Dave

 

You gotta start inviting me to these places Mate...I've got a new van coming...big people carrier car on way...and free time...I make a good flask of tea too...

 

Thank you all for your generous advice - much appreciated.

REgards.

Keith