Lancaster's American crew ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Is it possible that these seven American airmen were crew on the Halifax seen in this photo on Armyairforces website ?
Perhaps on a mission or transit from base to base ?

ha/c type due to earlier mis identifying thttp://forum.armyairforces.com/photo.aspx?photoid=1513&albumid=132

Thanks,
Have changed aircraft type due to wrongly identifying the Halifax as a Lancaster. Shows that even these days from an armchair it is so easy to do so.

Alex

[richard.k]

Not sure if this is the right answer but is possible. The aircraft in question seems to be coded OW-C from 426 Squadron. This particular aircraft landed at Horham St. Faith, where I believe the photo was taken on December 18,1944 returning from Duisburg due to poor weather at base. It could be the Baillie crew dressed in US gear.
My 2 cents. Richard

[Alex Smart]

Hello Richard,
Thanks for the reply.
I was not sure of the men in the picture being "air-crew" as you will be aware US Bomber-crews were usual to be 9 or over in number and this only shows 7 which would be normal for Halifax "crew". I am aware of US airmen flying on ops with RAF and Canadian crews but just wondered if a full US crew did fly a Halifax at some time for whatever reason, maybe just returning a returned and repaired a/c to the RAF base it departed on ops from.
And as you say perhaps the RAF crew just got a change of clothes from the Americans while on their base ?
Thanks again
Alex

[richard.k]

Hello Alex. The Baillie crew from 426 Squadron RCAF landed their Halifax VII at Horsham on Dec 18,1944 returning from Duisburg. Its possible they were given flt gear. The crew were:

Pilot: F/Lt J. Baillie J-9144
Flt/engineer: Sgt L. Wye 1874868
Navigator: F/O T. Carss J-38168
Bomb Aimer: F/O C. Grant J-39922
Wireless Operator: F/O G. Giba J-43072
Mid upper gunner: Sgt W. Barill R-266633
Rear gunner: Sgt T. Stevens R-267227

They were flying Halifax VII NP-779 coded OW-C on this particular op.
I have a photos of them, but they are too far away to ID.

Richard

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Richard,
Makes sense that a wash up followed by change of clothes and breakfast would fit the bill greatly.
Alex

[DavidIsby]

And a trip to the PX.

US PXs were often willing to sell items such as tobacco and chocolate to RAF/RCAF aircrew who, of course, would not have been carrying their ration books.

I recall that this practice was, at one point, that prevalent that RAF units were warned at briefings against diverting to USAAF airfields without sufficient reason.

[BC]

You are reading too much into the photo. The men posing are probably all USAAF 458BG personnel and merely posing with the Halifax as an unusual visitor to Horsham St Faith.

[Larry]

That's what I thought, as there are plenty of photos like this