Lancaster PA278 - 4th Oct 1945
 

Interested if any wreckage of this Lancaster was ever located. It was from 103 Squadron (anybody have any pics of this aircraft?) taking 19 service personnel (Women) to Italy / Greece from RAF Conington to collect personnel under Operation Dodge.

Aircraft believed to have crashed 50 Kms from Cosrica (Bastia)

Most websites list this as missing. No bodies ever recovered.

Re: Lancaster PA278 - 4th Oct 1945
 

http://www.reffell.org.uk/WW2/heathercosens.php

Also see pages 495 & 496 of Colin Cummings " The Price of Peace"

All aboard are named.

Part of which has -
"30 miles NNE of Corsica. Reportedly 43°18" N, 8°55"E"

Re: Lancaster PA278 - 4th Oct 1945
 

There were 6 crew aboard, having left out the bomb aimer (as this was October 1945 it was not only after the War in Europe had ended but also in the Far East. Bit puzzling therefore why both gunners were aboard, as hostilities had ended. If nothing else, their weight could have been saved by leaving them behind, as i expect there was no ammo either.
19 passengers must have been a bit like a sardine tin, especially if both gunners were stuck in their turrets, flying below 2,000 ft as no oxygen or heating for passengers.
RIP

Re: Lancaster PA278 - 4th Oct 1945
 

depending where you look, the plane departed from RAF Glatton or RAf Conington...or perhaps both.

Anybody know the flight route if it left Conington for Glatton then took passengers on the fatal flight?