Head towards me, I patted my parachute to indicate that we were bailing out and he I then opened the bulkhead door leading to the rear turret and saw the rear gunner turn his The captain’s last words to me were “Yes, OK, but hurry, we’re at 4,500 feet, if he’s not That the rear gunner was still in his turret and he would let him know we were getting out. Then plugged into the intercom system and informed the pilot that he was bailing out and Seam had melted, the pilot was informed of this and he ordered everyone to bale out. The aircraftĬontinued to lose height and the flames had enveloped most of the wing and half of the Was informed of this, who then ordered everyone to collect their parachutes. The flames were causing the seam aft of the starboard inner engine to melt and the pilot The danger of flames was increasing all the time and the captain side slipped theĪircraft to keep them away as much as possible, as the aircraft kept losing height at the
LANCASTER BOMBER CREW STORIES FULL
Was in full control of the aircraft, but the fire did not die out as was hoped for by theĬrew.
Starboard inner engine was on fire but from dialogue between crew members in theĬockpit, it was determined that the fire extinguisher system had been activated. Second later this portion of the wing burst into flames. His response to evasiveĭirection was magnificent, but the aircraft was hit about the starboard inner engine and a That this experienced pilot had the aircraft under full control. Immediate evasive action by the pilot, even with the badly buckled port elevator showed Level and at about 350 yards the pilot was directed to corkscrew to starboard. As the attacking aircraft was coming in closing in from the starboard quarter
A second attack from deadĪstern upper, hit the starboard elevator and starboard inner undercarriage which burst intoįlames. The aircraft keep on course, rather than attempting to dive away from the attackingĪircraft, which was what the attackers would be expecting. From the bursts of fire, they were under attackīy at least two attacking aircraft and the gunner could not see them, so he decided to have The rear gunner was out of communications andĬould not direct the pilot on evasive maneuvers, so the Mid-Upper Gunner took control ofĭirecting the pilot with evasive direction. The first attack came fromĭead astern and under the tail, by three Junkers 88’s night fighters.Īs the aircraft was attacked, from the rear thuds were heard at the rear and flashes and Time that the Germans were able to home in on the signal. The aircraft was equipped with H2S radarĮquipment which transmits pulses and the crew and Intelligence was not aware at the The attack was a complete surprise, there When it was attacked from dead astern under. The aircraft was approaching our turning point before the run into the target On the 27th of April 1944, 622 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command was detailed to attackįredrichshafen, Germany, flying at about 20,000 feet and bombing the target with highĮxplosives. This story is from notes of my father Ron Hayes, who was a member of this crew, as Seven personnel, three being Royal Air Force (RAF) and four being Royal Canadian Air There were 323 aircraft on this mission, 15 from 622 Squadron andġ8 Lancasters were shot down that fateful night on that mission. The pilot kept the aircraft aloft so that the rest Mildenhall, England commanded by F/L Watson RCAF, was on a bombing mission toįriedrichshafen Germany, when it was attacked and was under continuous fire fromĮnemy fighters, being shot down in flames. Watsonīack on the night of 27/28 April 1944 Lancaster R ND 781/G of 622 Squadron RAF out of Lancaster of 622 Squadron commanded by Flight Lieutenant J.
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