Lancaster S/Suger R5868 and 405FG

[markjsheppard]

Hi all

Was going through some 405FG/9AF photos last night as well ad 509/510FS web site and saw some photos of a Lancaster on the airfield of 450FG. I am assuming it is either St Dizier, France in late 1944/early 45 or Ophoven Belgium in Feb/March 1945.

The photos clearly show S for Sugar and he bomb markings and the famous phase by Hermann Goering 'No enemy plane will ever fly over the Third Reich'-(from Memory.)

My question is what was she doing there? Was it a tour or did she put down, possibly damaged after a mission?

R-Sugar completed 137 missions and is now on display at the RAFM Hendon, London.

Any thought?

regards

MS

PS Will try ti link the photos tonight.

[Kutscha]

In a little booklet on R5868 has the a/c doing visits to American bases between Feb 3 and March 16 1945. The a/c was flown by an Australian WC from 360 Sqd.

A Very Special Lancaster was produced by Pitkin Pictorials Ltd for RAF Museum Hendon.

ISBN 85372-205-6

[markjsheppard]

Kutscha

Thanks for that. Must have been at Ophoven,Belgium sometime in February 45.

regards

Mark

[karelb]

I can confirm this, 405 FG came to Y-32 Ophoven end of January 1945 and left in the last days of April.
I'm into research on airfield Y-32 Ophoven and I"m very interested in all documents concerning this airfield.