It is now just over ten years since this thread started. I have been in touch with Laurent and it seems that preparations are under way for new planting in the forest making it difficult to conduct further searches. In addition, there are apparently new laws on the use of metal detectors.

We have therefore concluded that further searches for wreckage are impractical, unless something is found by chance..

All the work to date has enabled us to determine how the aircraft broke up and fell to earth, and a big thank-you is due to Laurent for all his efforts over many years.to achieve this result.

The memorial erected in the Freulleville churchyard will be a lasting testimony to the bravery of the crew.

Laurent has cleaned the piece and straightened it. It shows the number R3 940 for Avro with the AM number 20F 4644.

Frustratingly, this number does not appear in either the Mk.III or Mk.X Parts Lists, but its ‘F’ designation shows it is part of the wing structure – possibly from the outer wing.

The hole in the plate, which is now apparent in the picture below and which may be one of several in the fractured piece, does not seem to be robust enough to be a guide for the flying controls, but it would appear to be a conduit for something.

Any ideas, Peter?

After several months, Laurent has been continuing his searches in the forest and has found three more items, photos of which are attached.

The first, item 127, is the Fairlead inspection panel from the underside of the tailplane. It was found near to a similar piece (number 3 – also pictured) which is the Rudder Trimmer Cable Connections panel, so providing further evidence that one side of the tailplane came to earth at this point.

Secondly, item 128, is a piece of the aircraft skin from the leading edge of the rudder. It was found in a crumpled and bent state (left) but Laurent has carefully unfolded it and although it is still distorted, probably from the heat of the flames streaming back to the tailplane, the shape and rivet patterns have become visible (right) sufficiently clearly to enable its identification. It was found a short distance from other pieces from the rudder which had separated from the fuselage.

The Lancaster Manual describes the leading edge of the rudder as being of laminated mahogany with the skin attached by countersunk screws. This seems to have been subject to later modification to strengthen the fin, but there is no evidence of modification on the piece found which has its rivets seemingly more widely spaced than on later versions. The left-hand edge of the piece found appears to follow the curve of the fin in its upper segment as arrowed in the diagram.

Item 129 is the mystery piece. It appears to consist of a square or rectangular plate attached to an angle bracket or possibly a stringer. It is not clear whether the plate was originally flat or if it has been bent at right-angles in the crash. It was found close to a piece identified as being from the rear gun turret. Any ideas anyone?

Photo-gallery:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg

I have spent some time looking through the pattern of wreckage found, and I have prepared new plans showing the pieces from various different parts of the aircraft. These are in the photo-gallery which has also been updated for the latest finds. An extract from the plan for the probable fall of the tail unit is shown below with my conclusions as to the probable sequence of events as the aircraft fell to earth. Any comments would be welcome.

PROBABLE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE LOSS OF 582 SQN LANCASTER ED908 (60-Z)

1. On 20 July 1944 Lancaster ED908 of 582 Sqn takes off from Little Staughton airfield with Sqn/Ldr Ben Weightman DFC at the controls [Evidence: 109/582 Sqn Operations Record Books];
2. At 1550hrs the Oboe beam transmission starts. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft now piloted by Sqn/Ldr James Foulsham, DFC, AFC, of Mosquito Pathfinder 109 Sqn with his Oboe navigator Flt/Lt John Swarbrick, DFC, locates the Oboe beam and commences the bombing run [Evidence: Beachy Head Releasing Station and Hawkshill Down Tracking Station Operations Record Books];
3. Approximately one mile before the bomb release point the aircraft is hit by flak from the battery at Calmont, near Arques-la-Bataille and the port inner engine catches fire, but the leader presses on regardless [Evidence: eye-witness reports from aircraft flying in the formation and 582 Sqn Operations Record Book];
4. At 1617hrs the aircraft bombs successfully [Evidence: Hawkshill Down Tracking Station Operations Record Book];
5. On the simultaneous release of all of its bombs the aircraft would have lurched upwards after which “the whole of the port wing folded upwards at a right angle and completely broke off. The aircraft turned over on its back and went into a crazy downward gyration”. [Evidence: eye-witness account from second aircraft in formation, 60-G];
6. The aerodynamics would result in the aircraft veering to the left and the port wing falling to the right of the main fuselage [Evidence: wing and engine parts from the port wing along the eastern edge of the forest];
7. The port tail fin and rudder, weakened by the flames streaming from the port engine, breaks off [Evidence: items 38, 68, 69, 70 and 113 grouped together];
8. The stress as the aircraft gyrates then causes the tail unit to separate from the rear fuselage [Evidence:  scattered pieces grouped together – items 32, 33, 65, 120, 121 and 122 at the northern edge of the forest, pieces along the path of the falling tail unit – items 1,3, 4, 26, 27, 29, 77, 115, 120, 123, and fallen crew members in the field to the east of the forest, A1 and A2];
9. The starboard outer wing breaks away from the main plane as the falling aircraft nears the ground [Evidence: items 125 and 126];
10. The remaining rear fuselage breaks away to fall separately from the forward fuselage [Evidence: items 19, 20 and 36 in the field to the north of the forest];
11. What happened to the two undercarriages is a little more problematic. It is known that the port undercarriage was found suspended in a tree and that the wheel was retrieved by the local residents and hidden at the corner of the forest. [Evidence: eye-witness reports and brake shoes, item 12]. Brake shoes with different wear marks, and therefore from the starboard undercarriage, were also found near the corner of the forest and must be presumed to be from the wheel also taken there by the local residents – the rubber from the wheels was used to make soles for shoes. [Evidence: eye-witness reports and items 53 and 54]. It would appear that the starboard main plane did not separate from the fuselage as two brake shoes were also found where the forward fuselage came to rest. [Evidence: item 1]. This would be consistent with the port wing breaking off at the wing root, probably leaving a hole in the fuselage through which some items may have been ejected (see paragraph 5 above) [Evidence: item 72], and with the starboard wing breaking off at the joint between the main plane and the outer wing (see paragraph 9 above);
12. The forward fuselage comes to earth separated from the rest of the aircraft {Evidence: eye-witness reports of the remains of the cockpit area and the large number of items found at location 1].

Photo-gallery:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Thanks for your comments TerryP and trumper.

Interestingly amongst the debris from the aircraft we have the Serial Number plate for the Motor Generator Type 31 which was on board. The unit seems to have been renamed as “Rotary Transformer” as it still bears the same Air Ministry reference number 10K/24. Many thanks, Terry, for passing on the information that you have. I don’t think we can now pursue this further.

However, there is some more information to share on the piece of fuselage former amongst the items in 123. Something I’ve never understood is why the small hole patterns in the fuselage formers seem to vary for each former or why these small holes (not the larger ones) exist in the first place! They obviously have a purpose, and if anyone can throw any light on this, I would be glad to hear.

I asked Laurent to send me some more photos of the Former and these are attached below. The piece has two distinctive holes offset at an angle. Looking at pictures of the interior of the Lancaster, there seems to be only one place where this pattern exists, and that is on Former 34 at the rear of the aircraft, just in front of where the tail plane is joined to the fuselage at Former 35, as shown in the picture below.

If this identification is right, the fact that this piece was found under the path of the falling tail plane would provide further evidence that the tail plane (or part of it) must have broken away from the rest of the rear fuselage at some point during its descent, leaving a hole at the rear of the aircraft. This would be consistent with the location of other pieces found.

Photo-gallery:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Thanks Peter.

I have now established that the T1154/R1155 radio was powered by two motor generators (Type 31), later called rotary transformers (AM Ref. 10K/24). These were housed within the HT and LT power units. Gee had a Power Unit Type 305 (AM Ref. 10K/968), but so far I have not found any pictures. The Oboe system would presumably also have had its own power supply.

Unless anybody can add anything further, I think we can only assume that item 121 is part of one of these power units.  

Laurent has replied as follows regarding Terry P’s suggestion for item 121.

I can help you for part N ° 121, it is indeed an electric rotor in its square surround and with its sheet iron support! So, an electric motor which had to operate a mechanism!

I had cleaned it before, but unfortunately it is very rusty and at the risk of everything being broken !!!

Clearly we are on the right lines, but what piece of equipment might it operate if it is from the rear of the aircraft? What would require power – the ammunition feed or something in the rear gun turret, for example. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks for your comments Trolley Aux and to you Peter for your steer in the right direction.

Herewith the next batch of finds for comment, please.

120: There is no marking visible on this piece of ammunition feed ducting leading to the rear gun turret which is twisted and bent. It was found on the northern edge of the forest, some distance from a similar piece found at location 26 suggesting that the tail plane was separated from the main fuselage as the aircraft fell.

121: This item has a distinctive appearance, but I have no idea what it might be. The circular part has what appear to be vertical slits around the circumference. Could this suggest an electrical connection? Any ideas, anyone? Some more research is required.

122: This is a small clip for retaining electrical cabling and its location on the aircraft is uncertain, but possibly near the General Services panels or one of the cockpit lamps.

123: This collection of pieces of pipework and fragmented fuselage includes two rounds of armour-piercing ammunition which bear the headstamps DAC 1943 W1 and K5 1942 W1. The first type has been found extensively scattered throughout the forest, but the K5 headstamp from Kynock, Kidderminster, is the only example found of this type. Its location under the path of the falling tail plane would suggest that it is most likely to have come from one of the belts feeding the rear gun turret. The other pieces are not readily identifiable.

124: This piece was found under the hedge between Laurent’s property and that of his neighbour. It is thought to have been salvaged by his neighbour’s grandfather and perhaps cut to shape for his personal use. It is probably from the underside of the starboard wing, but maybe someone recognises the shape?

Photo-gallery:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=BCF75E8AD40ADF0D!164&authkey=!AJrxfdmdr6MXSdw&ithint=folder%2cjpg

Index to parts found and annotated illustrations:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=bcf75e8ad40adf0d!1426&authkey=!AAJOZyTYrN-x0CQ&ithint=folder%2cjpg