Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

Dear all,
does Lancaster L7543, EM-Z, lost on 11/07/1942 over Gdańsk (Danzig)?
I am also looking for photos of the Lancaster crew.
Many thanks,
Peter

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

Some information here. Crew was apparently buried in a common grave at Malbork, Poland.

http://aircrewremembered.com/duke-george.html

This appears to be a photo of Duke here:

https://twitter.com/nicemeniceyou

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

Thank you RSwank for the quick answer, I know both sides. I have been trying to explain the circumstances of their death for a long time. In Malbork, the crew of have definitely been buried. FI / Lt. C.W Miller, however, it is not known what the Germans did to the bodies of the crew of the Fl / Sgt. G.H.Duke?
I do not have any pictures from this crew: Sgt. H. Storey, Sgt. F. Routledge, P / O K.J Shirley. I will be grateful for all help.

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

Does anyone have any more info on this plane? I want to know how much mission they had before the crash?

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

Hello,

Ops of 1163246 George Henry DUKE RAFVR.

No.207 Squadron.

4/5-5-42 - Lancaster R5503 "S" - STUTTGART - Capt. F/S J B WALKER DFM - 2nd Dickie Sgt G H DUKE - Up: 22.40, Down: 04.47. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), May 1942 (Image 3 of 15).

7/8-6-42 - Lancaster R5550 "B" - GARDENING - 'NECTARINE" - Capt. Sgt G H DUKE - Up: 01.03, Down: 04.37. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), June 1942 (Image 12 of 36).

11/12-6-42 - Lancaster R5500 "B" - GARDENING - "NECTARINE" - Capt. Sgt G H DUKE - Up: 01.31, Down: 04.43. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), June 1942 (Image 16 of 36).

25/26-6-42 - Lancaster R5509 "G" - BREMEN (Focke-Wulf Factory) - Capt. F/S G H DUKE - Up: 00.07, Down: 04.07. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), June 1942 (Image 27 of 36).

29/30-6-42 - Lancaster R5509 "G" - BREMEN "D" - Capt. F/S G H DUKE - Up: ??.20, Down: 05.03. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), June 1942 (Image 33 of 36).

2/3-7-42 - Lancaster R5550 "B" - BREMEN - Capt. F/S G H DUKE - Up: 00.27, Down: 00.46 Engine problem, brought bomb load back to base. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), July 1942 (Image 2 of 32).

8/9-7-42 - Lancaster L7583 "A" - WILHELMSHAVEN - Capt. F/S G H DUKE - Up: 23.33, Down: 04.42. 207 Sqn ORB Record of Events (F.541), July 1942 (Image 7 of 32).

11/12-7-42 - Lancaster L7543 "Z" - DANZIG - Capt. F/S G H DUKE - Up: 16.41, Aircraft Failed to Return. 207 Sqn Orb Record of Events (F.541), July 1942 (Image 11 of 32).

Source:

TNA: AIR 27/1233/32 - May 1942 - Record of Events (F.541) - (15 Images).
TNA: AIR 27/1233/34 - June 1942 - Record of Events (F.541) - (36 Images).
TNA: AIR 27/1233/36 - July 1942 - Record of Events (F.541) - (32 Images).

Col.

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

No doubt this is all known to you experienced guys, but this raid on Danzig was the most distant target attacked by Bomber Command. BC War Diaries shows 44 Lancasters tasked, with a novel routing at low level in formation across the North Sea and then splitting up to bomb U boat shipyards from normal height once Danzig reached. The plan worked except some aircraft were late and thus lost the advantage of identifying the target just before dusk and had to bomb on dead reckoning. 24 managed to bomb and return, but 2 were lost to flak over the target (R5696 OF@H of 97 Sqdn being the other Lancaster lost). Both crews were reinterred at Malbork from Danzig after the War.

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

Dear Col Bruggy
Thanks for this very interesting info, which is a very good starting point for further investigation ! So it was his eighth mission, I understood correctly?
I could not find this information anywhere. Did you find any photos in your search?
In my search I found Stepson Sgt. Duke, but he could not find the answer to my questions. (http://www.bottesfordhistory.org.uk/...ours-in-memory). My previous actions were to clarify the fate shot down in the same raid Lancaster R 5696 OF-H Fl / Lt. C.W Miller, which were successful (https://historia.trojmiasto.pl/Upami...w-n124376.html).

Icare9, do you know any interesting reports from this raid?

Many thanks and best regards from Gdansk
Peter

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

The report says that exhumations are carried out only from one place: Zinglershohe next to Cut Herberge, three coffins. That is one crew, Fl / Lt.C.W.Miller.

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

German newspapers from this period, apart from pure propaganda, do not contain any details. Can any of you have access to German reports relating to these events?
Flak's units defending Danzig in July 1942: Schwere Flak-Abteilung 114, schwere Flak-Abteilung 387.

Re: Lancaster L7543 EM-Z
 

I am unaware of any surviving logs from flak units. A salvage unit would be given the job of removing what was left of the aircraft.