AA: I don’t think it is secret, but I prefer to send you an e-mail.

I am disappointed that Jackflash has not resurfaced to answer some of our questions. Please, would you do that in the interests of the Forum, the families, and aviation history in general?

I just found a reference to another report of the latest “dig”. I don’t think it was referenced here before.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/lancaster-bomber-remains-found-68-years-after-d-day-crash.html;_ylt=AqFROm3AUCwgsuhErJDln8jEfMl_;_ylu=X3oDMTFwZDR1ZGhiBG1pdANvbmx5IG9uIHlhaG9vIDE1MDMyMDEyBHBvcwMyBHNlYwNNZWRpYUVkaXRvclBpY2tzVGVtcA–;_ylg=X3oDMTJsMG4yM2I5BGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDYzE0NzBjNDAtOGY0Zi0zYjhlLTkzZTQtNGU1ZWY3MjViYTk1BHBzdGNhdAN1awRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3

Can anyone identify the people involved in this dig (eg in the first photo)? Can any of them confirm whether remains of the crew were found or not?

I am really puzzled by the fact that this report suggests that the Lancaster was only found a few days or weeks ago after 68 years of being lost. Yet, we learn from this thread that the gold ring and other personal items were discovered on a previous dig (or digs). What is the truth?
Thanks

Paratroopers from the 3rd battalion 506th PIR 101st airborne division witnessed the crash and assumed it was a P-47. a patrol was sent to the downed aircraft to recover any weapon systems which could be used (baring in mind the area was still under fire). investigation by mr.graves proved it to be a Lancaster.
….
Hope this has answered much of the understandable speculation due to the lack of information from the press.

Jackflash: I don’t understand how witnesses to the Lancaster crash could have mistaken it for a P-47. What “weapon systems” did the “patrol” hope to find? How could weapons from a crashed aircraft (which had crashed at high speed and was buried deeply) be of use on D-Day, or soon thereafter?
Re the “speculation”: we are not speculating, just hoping to get answers to some basic questions arising from reports of this “dig”, and to try to understand what happened to the remains of the crew. Can Jackflash please advise?

Also, looking again at the Telegraph video interview cited by Jackflash, from 00.16 on we see people roughly handling what appear to be structural remnants and throwing them on a pile. What happened to the remnants recovered that day, and is it not possible that human remains could have been amongst them?

renewing my query

Like several others posting above, I find it difficult to understand why no human remains were found. They can last a very long time in quite harsh conditions, even in damp ground. I wonder if the diggers looked carefully and, in particular, was a pathologist or anatomist with some forensic experience present to help find and identify any remains?

As I had no replies to this query, I wonder if anyone knows whether indeed there was someone with knowledge of forensic pathology at the site?

I don’t know the reference for the blue, but I think it was “Cambridge” (light) blue, as opposed to “Oxford” dark blue, as worn by the Chipmunks of Oxford UAS (note my avatar).

A related question: 115 Peterborough Squadron ATC had a Vampire T11 at the HQ at Westwood airfield from 1963 to 1973 (XE887). I recall when it was delivered it had Cranwell blue bands, but I can only find a reference to it serving with 4FTS. Is my memory playing tricks, or was it at Cranwell at the end of its career?
Here is a photo of it toward the end of its stay at Westwood (courtesy of Dave Ellis).