Re: Mystery lancaster crash

[Bandlaw Charlie]

I tried the lanaster archive forum with no visable success...so here's hoping I might have greater luck here.

I'm researching a lancaster (LL749) from 166 Squadron that failed to return from a trip to the City of Essen in late March 44.

Thankfully, the crew that died have a final resting place. They are buried together at Choloy War cemetery in France.

I can't find any information regarding the aircraft and her demise. Theo Boiten's book suggests that she may have been shot down by a night fighter...but even he has told me that the evidence is sketchy....and inconclusive...so something else might have happened.

I'm assuming that since the crew are buried in France, then it's logical to assume that the aircraft came down in France also....maybe, maybe not...there's a chance the crew were buried elsewhere...I've approached the Commonwealth War Graves to confirm

Since one of the crew was an Aussi, I'd hoped the Australian Archives might have a casualty file on him...sadly no...brick wall...

Does anybody have any ideas....this one's got me foxed.....

Thanks in advance for any help given.

[Leendert]

Is it so that one crew member (Sgt A.G. Coney) survived and became POW?
Perhaps from this a report was filed afterwards with more details?

I'm not familiar with where such reports are stored, but Kew National Archives regulars may help you on the way.

Regards,

Leendert

[Bandlaw Charlie]

Thanks Leendert.
Sergeant Coney was the crew's bomb aimer and I know he ended up in Stalag Luft 6 or camp 357...knowing what I do about British RAF records, I have no doubt that there were POW reports filed...but I wonder if they are freely available to the public...

Thanks again for your help.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Re: F/Sgt. M.D.H.Williams RAAF
I found the following in the Australian site.
32 pages includes photo.
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameS...g.aspx?page=42

Alex

ps: could there have been an error in records ?
78 Sqdn lost Halifax LK749 on this nights op to Essen also a/c "J" and 166 Sqdn Lancaster LL749 "J2", as the 78 Sqdn a/c had been delt with then "749" came up again might the recorder have thought he/she had already delt with it and hence that is why today we find only the crew details and zero about the crash or crash site ?

[DAVEBRAD]

A little background info According to Avro Lancaster by Harry Holmes,also Lancaster story of a famous bomber by Bruce Robertson,she was del to sq. Jan 1944,lost with 59hrs.

[Bandlaw Charlie]

Thank you Dave...thank you Alex.

Dave, yes I also discovered that the lanc had 59 hours of operational time and that she was delivered to 166 in January 44.

Alex, you could well be right....there is a French website that records aircraft crashes in France....the lanc and crew are recorded there...but there is no further information...no cause of crash or location...sadly.