Time over target ~ Peernemunde August 1943

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Don,

I will try to help, although like you I do not have this book of Middlebrook ( his only book I still do not have ).

Try to find out on this website the information you are looking for by figuring out the TAKE OFF times of each Squadron. So, this way you will have an overall picture:
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/results...&submit=Search

On the second page of this site, I found the Lancaster PG*P, serial EE147 of your father. Here it goes:

"Serial Range ED303 - EE202 This aircraft was one of 620 lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton) in 1941 and built from Nov42 to Jun43 as 129 Mk.1s and 491 Mk.111s in a mixed production run up to ED782 and all as Mk.111s from ED783 onwards. Mk.1s were initially fitted with Merlin 20 and the Mk.111s with Merlin 28 engines. EE147 was a Mk.111 and was delivered to 619 Sqdn 31May43, joining No.619 Sqdn 8Jul43. Took part in the following Key Operations: With No.617 Sqdn as AJ- L, no Key Operations; with No.619 Sqdn as PG-P, Turin 12/13Jul43; Hamburg 24/25Jul43; Hamburg 27/28Jul43; Hamburg 2/3Aug43; Peenem_nde 17/18Aug43-Lost. No record of total hours. EE147 was one of three 619 Sqdn lancasters lost on this operation. See: ED982; EE147. Airborne 2155 17Aug43 from woodhall Spa. Crashed in the vicinity of anklam-Lassan, Germany. all are now buried in Poland at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. P/O A O'Leary RCAF KIA Sgt T.Underdown KIA F/S R.Crossley KIA Sgt J.T.Hubbard KIA Sgt J.H.Shaw KIA Sgt D.G.Cox KIA F/S L.F.English RNZAF KIA "

To calculate the ETO ( Estimated time Over ) of your father´s Lancaster, one would have to have the FLIGHT PLAN for the mission. With that it would be more or less easy ( if we had also the wind information for the night ).

From the Luftwaffe records I find out that Feldwebel Hans Meissner of 6./ NJG 3 claimed a Lancaster at 4.500 meters Nordkuste of Alsten ( the names are very similar although they did not match ). I had to find out a good map of the Area to check out the small German towns...

Actually I would suggest you to check ALL Luftwaffe claims on the following site:http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm
Then you can have an overall picture of what happened.

PS: I may say that this site contain a lot of errors, so as you will find out on old threads on this Forum, it is not 100% correct.

I hope I had been able to give you a steering to follow on your researches. I am actually doing this kind of "pationate" job, researching some claims of Luftwaffe night-fighter pilots. It is no easy task with so few information, but checking the Hour, location of crash - one arrives to have a 90% chance of finding the truth.

Sincerely yours I remain

Adriano

PS: If I find out the book of Middlebrook, or any other news, I will share with you. Excuse me if I was unable to answer what you would have liked to hear.