Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Dear all,

Who can help me with the crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466 during the 12-13 August 1944 Rüsselsheim raid. The personnel file of one of the crew members gives as location 'Forsthausen Woodsdamm' some 20 km SW of Frankfurt, but I have been unable to find a place with this name ..

Also the time of loss of LM466 would be of interest -the aircraft was reportedly shot down by Flak but I have been unable to find a claims report for the destruction of this Lancaster in the available primary German sources.

Cheers and thanks for any help, Theo

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Hello Dr. Boiten,


Meant is I think Woogsdamm at Groß-Gerau... See attachment.



Keep up the good work,


Timon

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Seems to be the correct location for LM466, since all perished crew members were initially buried at Gross-Gerau civilian cemetary.

Best wishes

Horst Weber

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Excellent work Timon and Horst, that's the one!

Best regards, Theo

PS: Timon, I'll reply to your PM but am rather busy these days ..

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Hello
Another hint. 'Forsthausen Woodsdamm' must be called "Forsthaus Woogsdamm". "O.F.Woogsdamm" on the map mean "Oberförsterei Woogsdamm" and the forester lives in a "Forsthaus" (red arrow).
Greetings, Rene

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Interesting. Made me think of this folk song.


|: Im Wald, im grünen Walde,
Da steht ein Försterhaus, :|
Da schauet jeden Morgen,
So frisch und frei von Sorgen,
|: Des Försters Töchterlein heraus, :|
Ta-ra-la-la, ta-ra-la-la,
Des Försters Töchterlein ganz frisch heraus,
Ta-ra-la-la, ta-ra-la-la,
Des Försters Töchterlein heraus.

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

Thanks René for the tip, I've amended the entry in the NCA manuscript accordingly.

And Timon -too bad you can't sing us the song in real life!

Cheers, Theo

Re: Crash location of 622 Squadron Lancaster LM466, 12-13.8.1944?
 

I think this could be the Lancaster site I dug back in the early 2000s. The crater was filled with medical bottles and pharmaceutical equipment. But it could also have been the one that crashed near Gross-Gerau where some of the crew are still missing.