Tim, Midland Counties were advertising the book “Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean” in their Flypast advert, but on checking it is Vol. 1 1939-1942 so doesn’t have your date range. 178 flew Liberator VIs Dec ’43-Nov ’45 and at the time of your date of interest were based at Amendola, near Foggia in Southern Italy. According to http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1944_4.html, Liberator B.VI KH243 was missing in action on a supply drop over Northern Italy on 6.11.44, this was the only loss on that date I could find, but you may spot others!

Wow. I have always loved the look of the Stratotankers (maybe full figured beauties are my thing!). I really hope the airframes go to good homes.

Hello Snapper, my first post so hope it’s ok. The following is from the RAF Museum’s history of S-Sugar:

10/11 Nov 43 Modane. 1 x 4000 lb 108 30 LB, 840 x 4 lb incendiaries. Pilot P/O A.Fisher.
Flight time 7 hours 35 minutes. The attacking force was over 300
Lancasters, the target the French end of the Mont Cenis railway tunnel. (78)

It was operation number 78 for Sugar. I’ve been doing a bit of research into Bomber Command mascots and believe 467 had a kangaroo mascot which used to sit on Sugar’s nav table – a long shot I know, but if Frank remembers anything about it that would be very interesting!
The RAF Museum guys may be interested in a copy of your friend’s log book, as it mentions their aircraft.

Good luck with the research,
Nick