These details come from Chorleys BC losses ..........
Lancaster LM471 Information
Type
Lancaster
Serial Number
LM471
Squadron
576
X1D
UL-J2
Operation
Berlin
Date 1
24th March 1944
Date 2
25th March 1944
Further Information
"Serial range LM301 - LM756 This aircraft was one of 350 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Yeadon) as Mk.111s except for the first ten as Mk.1s (LM301- LM310), delivered from Oct42 to Oct44. Mk.1s had Merlin 20 engines and the Mk.111s Merlin 38 engines initially installed. LM471 was delivered to No.576 Sqdn 27Feb44. Lost on its first operation with a total of 10 recorded hours. LM471 was one of two No.576 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See:LM469 Airborne 1855 24Mar44 from Elsham Wolds. Drifted well S of track on the home leg and finished up inside the infamous Ruhr defences, eventually crashing at Beeck, 5 km from the centre of Duisburg. The two men killed are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. In captivity, Sgt Roper exchanged identities with a sailor, B.Wood, who was being held at Lamsdorf. F/S L.J.Collis KIA Sgt H.Smith KIA Sgt J.Roper PoW F/O A.C.Harper RCAF PoW Sgt P.McDougall PoW Sgt B.Warren PoW Sgt J.Robinson PoW F/O A.C.Harper was interned in Camp L1, PoW No.3819 with Sgt P.McDougall, PoW No.3828 and Sgt R.J.Roper. No reliable PoW No. Sgt J.Robinson in Camps L6/357, PoW No.2187. Sgt B.warren in Camp L7, PoW No.43396. "
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- Winthorpe 1661 HCU - 630 Squadron " Nocturna Mors " East Kirkby - The LE-K for Kitty Crew - " There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly " stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
Thanks Mike, I've looked in to this and contacted the paper to see if they can pass on my details.
I'm interested in the artist he mentions as my Granddad had a parachute silk with a painting of his lancaster and the names of the crew on it which was painted for him in the camp. I would love to find out if this was the same person.