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Looking for 207 sq.lancaster crew families
Dear all,
A few years ago, an engine of a 207 Squadron Lancaster (ME685 “EM C”, shot down in Toulouse on 5/4/44) was found under a road here downtown.
It will soon be exhibited in a dedicated space in Toulouse: “la piste des géants” (literally “the runway of the giants”).
You will find here under a summary of the story of this aircraft.
For this exhibition, we look pictures of this aircraft and if possible, pictures of the crews. For this reason, I would like to have contacts with their families.
In 2011, a friend of mine here in Toulouse was in contact with Ray Francis, from 622th squadron, leaving in Solihull, West Midlands. .
Ray was himself in contact with the sister of one of the crew members: John Read. This sister name was Jeanne Bower, she came in Toulouse in 2011 with her husband Dennis and supplied a picture of her brother John;
I wonder if Ray is still active (he was 87 in 2011) and if you could help me contact him, or so that he can put me in contact with Jeanne Bower.
Any tip enabling me to contact any other crew member would be welcome.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Gilles Collaveri
Aerocherche.fr
Lancaster ME685 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number ME685
Squadron 207
X1D EM-C
Operation Toulouse
Date 1 5th April 1944
Date 2 6th April 1944
W/O J.R.Senior Captain
Sgt A.F.Wooley Flight engineer
F/S S.W.Sayce Navigator
F/S J.T.Read Air bomber
W/O W.J.Waycott Wireless air gunner RAAF
F/S F.T.R.Bruce Mid upper gunner RAAF
Sgt H.Wilson rear gunner
Further Information
"Serial Range ME554 - ME868 This aircraft was one of 250 Lancaster Mk.1s ordered from metro- Vick May42 and delivered from Nov43 to Jun44 with merlin 22 engines initially installed up to ME639 and merlin 24 engines from ME640 except for ME668-9 with Merlin 22 engines. ME685 was delivered to 207 Sqdn 11Mar44. ME685 took par in the Key Operations against Stuttgart 15/15Mar44 and Berlin 24/25Mar44. When lost this aircraft had a total of 39 hours.
Airborne 2020 5Apr44 from spilsby to attack an aircraft works.
Hit by Flak, exploding with great force, and crashed 0030 6apr44 apx 5 km SE of the city.
all are buried in Toulouse
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