Lancaster Bomber 514 Squadron

Hello Alex, I thought it would be funny to post a picture of the cart that tis for sale near Vendôme. It is one of those typical "tombereaux" carts that you mention. I saw this on a local add and immediately thought of you .

 

What a great photo Skipper. I am sure that is the same as the one I saw at my first "safehouse". It was loaded with grain and was in a shed with an earthen floor. My host bade me to lay down beside it and then proceeded to cover me with sheaves he pulled down off the cart. There I spent a thankful if sleepless night when he returned at dawn.
Oh the memories. Thank you so much Skipper. Alex Campbell

 

You are welcome Alex, it's a bit heavy to put the whole cart in the mail but If you ever make it to France I will do my best to take you to a real one. This one seems to be in real good condition, almost ready to go to Freteval.

 

That big little word"if". I would be right there knocking at your door. Alex

 

I have been given a few gauges which I understand come from Lancasters. A couple have been easy to identify (fuel gauge and MkXVIIA altimeter) but I am stuck with the others. The first appears to be a gauge from a turret with markings 90 degrees left and right.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/orionairways/Turretpositionindicator.jpg

The second is a gun control panel with various switches. The master switch which is down for 'off', which my father, who gave me these items, tells me is an American convention. I understand it might have been Canadian originally and have seen one advertised as ex-RCAF.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/orionairways/Guncontrolplate.jpg

Is anybody able to advise me on whether these might have been used in a Lanc?

Thanks

Simon

 

Well Robo I will be just guessing. A drift guage comes to mind. But I believe the rear turret had degrees marked on the aircraft fuselage with which the gunner could align his guns to coincide with wind drift. It might be a repeater gauge showing the angle of the turret relative to the fuse.
Let's hope somebody out their can help. Good luck Robo. Cheers Alex Campbell

 

Alex,

Thanks. I have seen something similar on the internet describing it as a 'turret position gauge' for a Lancaster with no further details. I have a DVD called 'The Lancaster Explored' which has detailed photos of instrumentation from all the restored Lancs and it doesn't seem to appear in any of them.

Best regards

Simon

 

Good Morning,

I came across this reference to Dad's story at a French Site:
fiche D032

I used the Google Translator to translate to English:
Translated version of http://www.cometeline.org/ficheD032.html

Skipper, you may know who looks after the French version of this site.

Wayne

 

Hi Wayne , these are Belgians who are in charge of a Comete line escape site. They have made a large data base with some good work . I however don't know them personnally. About your dad's details They obviously were inspired by this thread as well as the one on hilaroad, they talk about St cloud and Strassner which as far as I know were not mentionned earlier.

 

Hello everyone - new to this site, but just thought you'd be interested to know this. I'm a serving RAF padre and next Monday (4th May) will be going to Hunsel (Netherlands) to take part in the ceremony to unveil a new monument to the crew of 514 Sqn Lancaster ME858.

 

Hello Flyingbishop Welcome to our site. This is interesting and hope to hear more from you later. Alex Campbell skipper of "A2 C"

 

Hello Alex, I just wanted to let you know I have not forgotten you. I am curently involved with helping with organizing two commemorations in May and in June, so I'm very busy , however after this I will concentrate on AC-2 again and hopefully convince local authorities to focus on your Lancaster. No promise here, but it's been on my mind for over 2 years now.

 

Hello Flyingbishop,
I was very interested in your post and have been watching out for a follow up about the ceremony you attended and hoping for a picture or two perhaps.
I had an uncle who was a crew member of the Lancaster which crashed at Hunsel and I am so pleased that they are all still remembered there.
Regards from Ibrows.

 

Hello,

I realize this was posted a while back, but as I'm a new member, this film is news to me! Thank you so much for sharing it. Although I'm having a bit of trouble getting to the end of it (my computer is on the slow side), it is well worth the wait!
Thank you!

 

i am watching that video right now

 

A special thought for the fallen of the July 28th-29th 1944 Stuttgart mission. Today is the 65th Anniversery. Alex once again I want to say thank you and let you know I have a special thought for Bob Giffin . I wish I could go to St Cloud and lay flowers on his grave, but I have to travel abroad tomorrow. However I took my little one to see another Lancaster crew that perished at 00.14 . Here is a picture of him as he put flowers on the grave and is saying a prayer for the airmen who died that day.



My dream is still to have you , your relatives and your friends come over for a commemoration cermony . Best regards.

 

Skipper,
Dad was just up for a visit, I'm sure he will respond to your post.

Came across this video on YouTube.
A nice speech at the unveiling of the Lancaster Monument at Hunsel, dedicated to a crew of 514 squadron.
Lancaster fly-past at the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_AWCDK9QNo

Wayne

 

Finally I have resurfaced. Yes Wayne, Skipper deserves a big Thank You for his thoughtful
remarks concerning the demise of our "C Charlie". Your memory serves you well Skipper as it has done on many occasions. And a visit to France would be a nice thing to do- still a dream. Alex Campbell

 

Cheers for the link Wayne.

Alex, I just saw your answer. I was away until yesterday (to Sicily following the footsteps of NJG2 which was based at catania prior moving to chateaudun. I suposse Herr Strassner was there too in 1943

 

Came across this article about Freteval Forest by Bill Trent - "Forest of Hidden Men"

FOREST OF HIDDEN MEN - Weekend Magazine [