Mike,

Many thanks for your help. I am new to this research but I am making progress.

I have not heard of the 'Nachtjagd War Diaries' so I must check that out. I am pretty sure that my wife's elder sister, who lives in Canberra, has been in touch with the National Archives of Australia but I get the feeling that it wasn't much help. It seems that P/O William Kenneth Williams family were told that aircrew had been seen bailing out so, as you can imagine, for some considerable time afterward, his parents were holding onto the belief that he would, one day, walk back through the door. It seems that they had been informed that after successfully deploying her consignment of mines she had been shot down whilst on her return to Scampton. They were either told or perhaps presumed that it was a German night fighter that was responsible. 

You mentioned 4 out of 91 minelaying aircraft being lost. I presume that this was in total because I can only find reference to one other Lancaster R5621 OL-R being lost on that particular operation. From what I can gather, R5621 was hit by anti-aircraft fire from a ship and blew up, but three of the crew did manage to bail out. Perhaps you can you tell me what 'Oblt' is?

During the research I have done thus far I have found conflicting bits of information. For example, one of the websites stated that R5636 OL-K was 'Damaged beyond repair', no mention of a Gardening mission. All I do know is that she took off at 22:14 on a 'Gardening Mission' and that nothing else was heard from her. There are many things I would like to know, one being, how many aircraft were on that particular mission and why are the details surrounding her loss so vague? It may well be that in my naivety I am expecting too much and that I will have to accept that this was not an uncommon feature of Bomber Command. 

I visited the RAF Museum at Colindale yesterday and I am hoping to make another visit shortly in order that I can talk to their research dept. Now I have started this research, I feel that I owe it to my wife's family to find out as much as I possibly can about Avro Lancaster R5636 OL-K and her crew. 

Sorry to have bleated on, I don't suppose this forum was intended for this................Thanks again.....Keith

Hi Keith,

If you go to the archives web site and go to collection search then to search the records and use his service number 401086 you will find both his service file and crash record are on line. 

Oblt Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld was killed in an aircraft accident 12 March 1944. NJG in 1942 were based at Gilze Rijen in the Netherlands.

Good luck with your research,

Regards,

John.

Mike,

Yes, thank you, 70% accuracy is higher than I would have imagined so I think we can take it as read. I will check that other link out.

I am getting pretty close to understanding the events of 11th/12th June 1942 but before I contact my wife's family in Australia I would like to get as clear a picture as I can of that specific Gardening Operation. I would like to know, for example, how many aircraft and of what type were involved in that operation and from which squadrons. I would also like to know about any previous operations P/O W.K.Williams had taken part in and were they in Lancaster's. I am sure this information exists somewhere, it is just a case of finding out where. I would very much appreciate it if you can point me in the right direction. 

Many Thanks for all your help.

Dave,

Many thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated, I would not have a clue as to where I should go for this information. I fear that I am about to display my ignorance again. I note that the link you sent me is from an Australian govt archive. I can understand why they would have records on Australian residents but why do they have the records on what I assume to be an RAF Squadron? I simply don't understand the search process.

I have found Several documents on Australian Archive site, medical history etc but much of it is hand written and barely legible. The references in his 'Postings' section are abbreviated which makes it difficult for me to cipher. 

Postings: AC 2 & LAC 'Non Combat Service'.  The following are listed as Combat Service No 1 ANS 15/9/41 :  No 3 PRS 22/9/41 ;  No 14 OTU 28/10/41 : 49 Sqd 30/3/42 : 83 Sqd 27/4/42  

I think I am right in saying that 49 Sqd was based at RAF Cottersmore.

In one of his last letters home he writes;  No. I didn't fly on the 23rd. As a matter of fact we've been converting to one of the latest monsters and I'm off again tonight. As such things go it's a quiet trip this time so shouldn't be in                                                                        trouble hope not anyway. Pilot is an Aust Rayment (We think he meant Raymond)- lately awarded an immediate D.F.M for bringing back a shot up. Very nice fellow. Love to you all. 

I am thinking that he may have been in the process of transferring from Manchesters to Lancasters. It would be good to know more about the Australian Pilot 'Raymond'?

As I said earlier I am no doubt showing my ignorance and am guilty of misusing this forum.

Keith

Hi Keith,

You're not misusing the forum one bit, mate. Everybody's here to learn.

I'd recommend you email John as I know for a fact he knows his way around these records and can guide you.

I'll just add that P/O Williams was talking about 400155 F/Sgt Arnold James Frederick RAYMENT, awarded the DFM, gazetted 24 April, 1942:

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1524751/

https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_LARGE/RCDIG1068970/RCDIG1068970--82-.JPG

Regards,

Dave