Lancaster PB880

A couple of weeks ago a gentleman donated this part of a Lancaster to our museum at former Swedish Air Force base at Angelholm, Sweden.
He have had this in his summer house since the late 40s. It was extremely dirty and full of mud. I cleaned it up with a little water and a toothbrush and I was amazed by the excellent condition of this relic. I’m more used to work with Tunnan and Draken jets so this is new to me. I’ve found out that it’s a thermostatic valve from a Merlin engine.

I was a little curious so I decided to find out a little more about the plane it came from…
This is what I found out.
In January 1945 a Lancaster Mk.1 (PB880, LE-B) from 630 Sqn was on it’s way to Politz when one of the Merlins caught fire over Denmark due to mechanical reasons.
The aircraft managed to make it to the Swedish coast where the crew bailed out. Unfortunatly the mid upper gunner waited to long and was seriously injured. He died the next day at the hospital in Helsinbgorg, Sweden. The rest of the crew was unhurt.
The bomber crashed in a field and was destroyed in a huge explosion since it was still carrying its bombload.
It was nothing short of a miracle that nobody was hurt on the ground.

I went out to find the crash site and see if there was anybody who could tell me more. I found a family who owns the field where the Lancaster crashed. They could point out the exact spot. The farmer told me that his parents owned the farm back in 1945. In some conditions you can see where the crater used to be. He also told me that the hole and the remaining wreckage was just covered with dirt. So maybe one day I should go and do some digging? 🙂

Another gentleman who lived in the farm “nextdoor” could tell me more. He was in his 80s and told me that he saw the bomber crash. His parents house was badly damaged so it had to be rebuilt. He pointed to a bush in his garden…
Can you see it?

Now? 🙂

The propeller blade came crashing down and landed in his garden. His father just moved it a meter so he could mow his lawn…

He told me that if I wanted any Lancaster parts I should look around in his garden and by the small road outside.
Here is what I found after a couple of minutes. Perhaps you can help me identify them?

Pic 1.

Pic 2.

Pic 3.

Pic 4.

I’ve also discovered that we already have a machine gun from this aircraft in our collection.
I’m now thinking of getting a permit to do a metal detecting search in the area. What do you think?
Is it worth it? Some of my coworkers at the museum think that it’s just old scrap with no interest to our visitors.

Andreas
I’m sorry for my bad English… 😮