Lancaster DV222
 

Hi,
i’m currently collecting some information about sunken AC in my region.
One wreck in a lake called Walchensee in bavaria was a Lancaster. The remaining pieces have been almost completely salvaged in 1952. I have already collected a lot of the history of this aircraft , the different salvage operations and what happens to the crew after crash and salvage.
But there is still something missing:

Does anybody know pictures of this Lancaster and his crew? Also details for crew members would be great. I just got some info for Waters.

Serial No: DV222
Date: 03 October 1943
Crew Names:
Sgt. D.W.H. Butterfield +;
Sgt. J.A. Young +;
Sgt. D.R.L. Crapper-Bovey +;
Sgt. J.N.E.R. Labelle,
RACF +; Sgt. D.H. Strong +;
Sgt. R.A. Waters +;
Sgt. J. Jackson +


Thanks a lot for help and best greetings from bavaria

Lino

Re: Lancaster DV222
 

Gruss Gott, Lino
OK, in case you haven't yet got this info, the aircraft was from 12 Squadron flying from RAF Wickenby. It was coded PH-G2 (the "2" was because there was an aircraft with the code PH-G already on the Squadron (presumably a replacement while DV222 was away for repair after a heavy landing in August 1943) and not back on Operations until late September.
(No, I don't know why they didn't change the letter, presumably easier to add the "2" or that the crew wanted to fly a "G" for George callsigned aircraft!!).
Name: BUTTERFIELD, DEREK WILLIAM HANSON. Initials: D W H. Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Age: 20. Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: 162505
Additional information: Son of Ralph Sydney and Madge Butterfield, of Haxby, Yorkshire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 131.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Name: CRAPPER-BOVEY, DERRICK ROY LIONEL. Initials: D R L. Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Age: 29. Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: 1187563
Additional information: Son of Frederick John and Ethel Crapper-Bovey; husband of Betty Joan Crapper-Bovey, of Eldoret, Kenya.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 146. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Name: JACKSON, JOHN. Initials: J. Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: 1564702
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 154. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Name: LABELLE, JOSEPH NAPOLEON EMILE ROGER. Initials: J N E R. Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Flight Sergeant. Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: R/150233
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 183. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Name: STRONG, DONALD HUGH. Initials: D H. Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Age: 21. Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: 1214453
Additional information: Son of Charles Herbert and Kathleen Strong, of Regent's Park, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 166. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Name: WATERS, REGINALD ARTHUR. Initials: R A. Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Age: 19. Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: 1601324
Additional information: Son of Arthur Henry and Ethel Louisa Waters, of Bickley, Kent.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. K. 11. Cemetery: DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY

Name: YOUNG, JAMES ARTHUR. Initials: J A. Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 12 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 03/10/1943. Service No: 1561575
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 171. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

As LaBelle was RCAF, it may be possible to obtain further details from his file, which may contain more than the RAF files.

There is a 12 squadron Association. You might try contacting
No's 12/626 Squadron Association, (The Wickenby Register).
Care of Mr. G.A.G. Monk
25 Orchard Gardens
Effingham,
Surrey
KT24 5NR
England

who may have further details you require.
Tschuss!

Re: Lancaster DV222
 

Hi Lino,

Here's the Nachtjagd claim for this a/c:

Hptm. Rudolf Sigmund: 28 Stab III./NJG3 Lancaster in Walchensee, S. München: 5.600 m 00.06 12 Sqn Lancaster DV222

Herzlichen Gruss aus Gronnigen, Theo

Re: Lancaster DV222
 

Hi Icare and Theo,

thanks a lot for the information and help. This information i have already collected, but the reason for the marking and the time of repair was new to me.

As far as i know, Rudolf Siegmund died the next night, when he and his crew were shot down on their next mission.

I'm not so familiar doing research for UK losses and archives. I have already contacted the CWGC (Waiting for more information) and was in contact with the Wickenby register, where i already have received some precious and interesting information. Are there any other usefull sources or archives?

@Icare9
Do you know a source or contact for RCAF researches regarding Labelle?

Thanks a lot for help and best greetings from still rainy bavaria

Lino

Re: Lancaster DV222
 

Lino, I have this address, but there may be another for RCAF Records which I'll post if I find it before others beat me to it!!

Research Services Division
National Archives of Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N3
Canada

Edit: and
Personnel Records Unit,
Library and Archives Canada,
395 Wellington Street,
Ottawa,
ON K1A 0N3
Fax: (613) 947 8456
(which actually looks to be a variation on the above!!)
from a lovely warm London!!

Re: Lancaster DV222
 

Hi Icare,

thansk a lot for the adress, I'll try to get in contact.
Greetings Lino