Here’s one at the airfield that I live on. Took this picture from my garden.

Not able to answer your question at the moment but this picture of my father’s course with 14 OTU might be of interest. My father is top row second from left. Perhaps some of your uncle’s crew are here.

http://ww2chat.com/forums/war-air/2856-lancaster-ee182-moran-michigan-u-s.html

The link posted above discusses a Lancaster being used in the U.S. on a vehicle parachute drop in 1943.

In the first image of Davids fathers logbook he flew in ED869 ‘S’ on the 17th and then ED869 ‘P’ for all the other flights. Was it common for an aircraft to have its squadron codes changed like that?
Thanks Paul

I noticed that also. Initially I presumed he had made an error in his log book entry but squadron orbs (link below) shows the same. Can anyone clarify this?

http://www.97squadronassociation.co.uk/flightops4.html

Sobering indeed!

Within about two weeks, he participated in 5 missions deep inside Germany. Thats around 25 hours flying, a good bit of it over enemy held territory.

I hope he managed to see peace-time and more.

My father did manage to see peace time although he was shot down on his last op of his second tour, a trip to Mannheim on September 23rd 1943.

He managed to evade for 10 days before being captured. He was imprisoned at Dulug Luft (Frankfort,) Stalag Luft 6 (Heydekrug,) Stalag 357 (Thorn,) Stalag 357 (Fallingbostel,) Stalag Luft III (Sagan,) and at Marlag/Tarmsdedt.

He participated in the Winter March from Stalag Luft III and the Spring March from Marlag and was liberated May 2nd 1945 by the British Army 10 miles South West of Lubeck.

We were very lucky to have him come home.

Operation Hydra as well (Bomber Command attack on Peenemünde) that night also covered by a very good Martin Middlebrook book.

My Dad took part in that raid when serving with 97 Squadron.