Lancaster tail

Vis. Mon (The Vis, Mo are definitely readable and I think the last character is n)
A.P.I
VHF

Visual Monica

Air Position Indicator

V.H.F.

I am sure that lancaster PD230 is came down in Gouvy. I live 1 km from the crash site.
The australian archives said that W/O Francis White has been helped by the priest “Bastin”. The german brought 7 coffins and ask to the mayor to fill in the coffins. The 7 coffins were fill in. There were only 5 dead men and with this the two survivors could go back safely to England.
I try to find some photos of the plane and the Mellowship crew.
If someone can help me…

My source… now that is a good one… I’ll look through my bits and pieces and write again regarding that. If you search online for Schnaufer though, a few sites will credit him with the Lancaster that came down near Gouvy on the 12th 13th.

I have copies of the “Loss Cards” for the Lancs on that raid too, I might have copies of the Escape and Evasion reports for the two that evaded if you haven’t already seen them.

If you are interested, the bomb load for PD 250 is recorded on the loss card… “1 x 2000 HC (Brit)” I’m not an expert on these matters but I assume HC is High Capacity and for some reason they’ve written what looks like “Brit” in brackets… Maybe as opposed to an American HC Bomb?

There were also “12 x J Clusters” onboard. The loss card also recorded the equipment the Lanc carried… The experts will have to sort this one out…

Vis. Mon (The Vis, Mo are definitely readable and I think the last character is n)
A.P.I
VHF

I’ll write soon if I find anything other than the information that is available online regarding Schnaufer and the loss of PD 250. I haven’t got a copy of “Bomber Command Losses” but I have a feeling that flak is recorded as the reason for loss in there… is that right?

Anybody know if the part for sale was sold and where it is now?

Roger Smith.

Hi Gus,

Welcome to the forum.

Your post has given me another piece of the jigsaw of my mother’s cousin loss in PD230 coming down near Gouvy.

I now know the Lancaster was brought down by a nightfighter (Hptm H-W Schnaufer) rather tha AA fire.

Are you able to tell me the source of your information please?

Roger Smith.

Gus,
Welcome ot the forum!
You have pm regarding the Lanc tail.

Hello,

I’ve joined this forum as this thread certainly caught my interest. My understanding is the tail is from the Lancaster which crashed at Bas-Oha but what was the Lanc’s serial number please? Was it NE135 or the other serial mentioned?

Also did anyone save a picture(s) of the tail?

Finally, does anyone here have an opinion on the four Lancasters that where claimed by Hptm H-W Schnaufer that night.

A couple of sources I’ve seen read similar to the following:

12/13 August 1944

1. Lancaster 00:48 Wasserliesch
2. Lancaster 01:05 Gouvy
3. Lancaster 01:09 3km W Mons
4. Lancaster 01:09 Werbermont

However, a gentleman from Belgium contacted me a few years ago who doubted the 01:09 3km W Mons claim and said that he believed the 4th Lancaster was downed at 01:19 at Bas-Oha.

Just for the record, my main interest in this is Lancaster ND 694 which crashed at Werbermont, a crewmember of that aircraft was the uncle of a friend of mine…