30/31 March 44 166 Sq. Lancaster "P" JB 142

[SteveR]

Does anyone have or know the reference number of the Combat Report for this aircraft/crew for the Nürnberg Raid?

Outbound, Lancaster "P", JB 142, was attacked and set on fire by a night fighter. Pilot P/O P.J. Wilson ordered the crew to prepare to bale out and put the a/c into a dive in an attempt to extinguish the fire. With his intercom unplugged, M.U.G. Sgt. B. (for Ben or Benjamin) Wilkinson did indeed bale out, becoming a P.O.W. Meanwhile, Rear Gunner Sgt. A.G. Manuel managed to put the fire out. Bombs were jettisoned and the Lancaster limped back to the U.K. successfully. Wilson was awarded an immediate DFC, Manuel an immediate DFM.

I've got the 166 Squadron ORB for March 1944 as well as the ORB Appendices (the Combat Report isn't in them). I've searched the AIR 50 files at TNA by squadron number, date, and each crew members name but can't find the Combat Report.

Can anyone help?

Failing that, does anyone have the P.O.W. questionnaire for Sgt. Wilkinson?

(In addition to the ORB and Appendices, I've got the London Gazette citations for both Wilson and Manuel and Martin Middlebrook's account in The Nuremberg Raid.)

Thanks in advance for any help or pointers to the Combat Report!

[phasselgren]

Hi,

There is a short summary of the combat report in the AIR 14/3433 Monthly Supplementary Narrative of Operations – 3/44

Night 31th/31st March

1 Group a/c Lancaster “P” of 166 Squadron, near BAMBERG at 0112 hrs, height 19,000 ft, was attacked by a ME.110. The R/G returned fire and saw pieces of the E/A fall off and catch fire and dive. The ME.110 is claimed as destroyed.

Regards
Peter

[TigerTimon]

Possible claim (source Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944):
Lt. Otto Drähne: 1 6./NJG6 Lancaster 30-50 km NW Nürnberg: 5.500 m. 01.13

[SteveR]

Thank you both very much!

[Kirmington]

Any particular reason for interest in this crew?