100 Sqn Lanc ND571 HW-N (Nuts) 20/02/44

[Mortar]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I have joined this site as a ruse to asking, the "experts" out there, if they could assist me in researching the above Aircraft.
Through my work I have recently made the acquaintance of an elderly lady,who's very dear friend was the pilot of the above Bomber, he has recently passed away and as we were talking she mentioned to me she would love to know more ...and to this end my interest was aroused,being a veteran of the Iraq conflict ...I have taken the mantle and hope the"experts" maybe able to help me?

Following is a short resume of what I have already researched:

Mission and Formation

Leipzig 19/02/44 - 20/02/44

100 Squadron RAF


Aircraft

Lancaster Mk3
Serial Number ND571
Call Sign or (XiD) HW-N (Nuts)

Was delivered to 100 Sqn early Feb 1944 and only had 11 flying hours logged.

Was logged as Airbourne as of 1923420244 or for those not familiar with British Military Date and Time Groups 19th Feb 23.42 1944

Crew

(Crew Roles are as Informant recalls, and only one crewman is still alive,all survived the war and the action of 20/02/44,but all but one have since expired,therefore roles maybe incorrect)

Pilot : 150181 F/O George Roy Sidebotham (Later A/Sqn Ldr) RAF Deceased
Flight Engineer : F/O J "Jack" McLmason RCAF Believed Alive Canada
Navigator : P/O O.G. "Jock" Parry RAF Deceased
Bomb Aimer : F/Sgt R. H Dray RAF Deceased
Wireless Op : Sgt V.R. "Vic" Mendelski RAF Deceased
Mid Upper Turret : Sgt C.G.R "Cyril" Pope RAF Deceased
Rear Gunner : Sgt S Ambrose RAF Believed Deceased

Operation

(As recounted from Informant)

Arrived on target early had to circle tgt and await pathfinders, Low cloud cover,Bombs were dropped effect unknown, On Route out was sucessfully engaged by a German Night Fighter at 18,000 Feet approx 02.38 local.

Shot Down around the area of Stendal

Crew ordered to bailed out and Aircraft was flew on by Pilot but went out of control,Pilot Baled out, Have found a snippet of info stating aircraft crashed approx 02.43 local 6Km from Langehagen Airfield (now Hanover Airport)

Enemy Action

Only recorded action of a Lancaster "Kill" I could find at that time and place was recorded by

Lt Otto Fries from 8/JG302 who claimed a Lancaster shot down near Leipzig at 02.40 Local possibly flying a Me110


My questions are

1, Is it possible to define the crash site
2, How can I confirm the the German Pilot
3, Any other Info warmly accepted

Sorry for the long post ....Hope you can help

Thankyou in advance

[Icare9]

Hi and welcome. I assume you have already found this information on the internet:
Lancaster ND571 HW-N
Operation Leipzig 19/20th February 1944
ND571 was delivered to No.100 Sqdn 1 Feb 44. When lost this aircraft was on its first operation and had a total of 11 recorded hours. Airborne 2342 19 Feb 44 from Grimsby. Shot down from 18,000 feet near Stendal by a night-fighter and sent down out of control.
F/O G.R. Sidebotham PoW
Sgt V.R. Mendelski PoW
F/S R.H. Dray PoW
F/O J. McL Mason RCAF PoW
Sgt S. Ambrose PoW
P/O O.G. Parry PoW
Sgt C.G.R. Pope PoW
Sgt S. Ambrose was interned in Camps L6/357. PoW No.2128, with Sgt S. Ambrose, PoW No.1611, Sgt C.G.R. Pope, PoW No.1617 and Sgt V.R. Mendelski, PoW No.1620.
F/O J. McL Mason in Camp L3, PoW
From Tony Woods Combat Claims website, 78 bombers were lost during that raid. Stendal was often used as a turning point for the attacks on Leipzig, unfortunately it also seems to have been a Luftwaffe nachtjager gathering point too!
It sounds as if, being brand new, it had top performance, therefore arriving before the Pathfinders (although I thought 100 Squadron were tasked as such too). Never a good idea to spend too long over the target, flak defences were radar and acoustic guided and being the only one must have attracted everyones attention, to their ultimate cost. They were very lucky to all get out, not often one hears of that, especially if the pilot is all on his own, trying to trim it and then get to the hatch! It may therefore be that it was flak, as a fighter would not ordinarily leave a damaged bomber for that length of time, but finish it off to ensure it crashed and be credited to him. Fighters wouldn't ordinarily venture into the flak barrages, preferring to get into the bomber stream and pick off aircraft from below, or catch damaged and on fire aircraft as they struggled for home. There were many claims around the Stendal area, so unless the crew were visited by a fighetr pilot claiming them as his kill, I don't think it possible to sort out who got which aircraft near Stendal.
That's only a quick Google, I am sure there are many more authorative sources who can fill in as much as possible.

[Erich]

Fries if he was the pilot encountering this Lancaster would of flown either a Bf 109G-5 or a G-6. Their were no twin engine aircraft in JG 302

E ~

[Mortar]

Gents,

Thanks for the replies, yep Icare the majority I have found out via the internet,the lady in question remembers George (The Pilot) saying that N "nuts" was not his usual aircraft and was readied at short notice for this mission,she also seem's to think that he and the crew were a bit un-nerved by this and as was demonstrated rightly so!!

I have found out a little more info,all crew survived the contact and baled out and were subsequently picked up by the Germans,George was ot picked up until the ext day but was captured by the German Home Guard asleep in shed and transported to Stalag Luft 3 prior to the great escape and he completed the long march as well,I presume that Stalag Luft 3 was an Oflag for commisioned Officers only and I presume the SNCO's were sent elsewhere.

Erich, I have info saying that the Luftwaffe pilot was a "Ace" although I`m sure many pilot had been dowed by an "Ace" the Aircraft was a guess on my part,as was the pilot is there anyway of finding out anymore detail who actually shot N nuts down ???

Thanks Agian

[pietrzak]

According to Theo Boiten's excellent work the Nachtjagd War Diaries (Edition 2008), two pilots are listed as possible's for the loss of this 100 squadron Lancaster ND571.
The first:
Hptm. Julius Schurbel 4./NJG5 over Standel. 6.000 Metres Time: 03.03 hrs.
(Total of 2 claims - killed 02.03.1944 in a non-operational crash near Spornitz.)
The second:
Lt. Joachim F. Hanss 1./NJG5 Stendal area 5,400 Metres Time: 03.36 hrs.
(Total of 11 / 12 claims - killed on 7/8.07.1944, shot down by a Mosquito from 239 Squadron.
Hope this helps, although may just add to the confusion for you.
Kelvin
http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/