Avro Lancaster I (ME858 JI-J) on a mission to Homberg on 1944-07-21
On Thursday, 20 July 1944, (a part of) the aircraft of the 514 squadron (RCAF), took off for a mission to Homberg in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Waterbeach.
One of the crew members was Flying Officer D O Brown RCAF. He departed for his mission at 23:07.
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, with serial ME858 and code JI-J). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Friday, 21 July 1944.
Fragment from the book
Lancaster ME858 JI-J
514 squadron 'a' flight (uk)
Ton Bosmans & Carla Mans
To be ordered here: http://www.boekenbestellen.nl/boek/lancaster-me858-ji-j/21784
This book came about because, since childhood, I have been interested in WWll. In the autumn of 1999, at the seven graves of the Lancaster crew, in the cemetery of the church in Hunsel, I was joined by Annie Wood (sister of Harold Long), her son Colin, and his wife Ann.
For her it was a very emotional visit to the grave of her brother, Harold Long. I was promised a photo of Harold, and this arrived by post sometime later. This photo made me very curious as to who the other six crew members aboard the Lancaster were. I only had the names of the crew listed on the graves. I had no information about what aircraft and to what squadron it belonged. During a visit to the military cemetery at Rheinbergen (Germany) I came across an employee of the CWGC, and he gave me the address of the RAF Air Historical Branch.
This body gave me the necessary information as to which aircraft I was looking for. I came into contact with several people who provided me with the necessary information. After a few years I contacted several of the bereaved relatives of the crew members. Because most of the communication was by post, several months passed before there was a reply by post from Canada or England. In this book you can read the history of the Lancaster ME858 and the crew of 514 Squadron. Air Combat Report Referring to night-time pursuit in unit 'Tame Sow' with crew Uffz. Sarzio - Uffz.Conrads - Gefr. Talarowski on 21/07/1944 at 01:14. On 21/07/1944 at 00:20 I commenced duty as radio operator in the crew of Uffz. Sarzio from Deelen airfield aboard BF 110, G9 - JP for night combat duties (Tame Sow). We were directed to Gorilla sector by group command. From here we were directed into formation by radio fire report from Deelen. At 01:10 at 600m altitude and 3.8km distance
I had a SN2 fix and led my pilot up to about 200m. I soon saw the target above me on the right and saw a four-engine plane with double rudder. We positioned ourselves behind the enemy aircraft and my pilot fired, attacking at 01:12. The enemy aircraft immediately ignited on the left side and fell vertically downward.
I followed the fire until the impact took place at 01:14.
Particularly noticeable was a huge fire amongst which were several dark red areas or spots. I then took several bearings, from St. Trond 30 deg. and from Venlo 250 deg. We landed at Deelen at 02:40.
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Information about aircraft who did not return from this mission can be found here. Information about the other crew members on this flight can be found at this website (Aircrew Remembered). This website also provides the flight information for this record.
This record can also be found on the maps of Back to Normandy with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.
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