Lancaster supply drop to Yugoslavia

[Zoran Petek]

According to 332nd FG mission report (Mission 298, 21 April 1945) 6 P-51
Mustangs escorted 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster supply droppers from Ramitelli,
R/V point Zadar, to Yugoslavia (46 01 N, 13 51 E, SW Slovenia) and back.
Halifax could be from 148 Sqn, but Lancaster?
Can anybody help?

Zoran

[Franek Grabowski]

Two Halifaxes of No 148 Sqn did a drop to Vojna and nickel drop to Vinica. other flights were to Croatia and Italy.

[Zoran Petek]

Thanks Frank,
148's orb is available and missions with targets, times, crews, serials and letters can be checked.
But it is a Lancaster I'm interested in. I believe that 332nd airmen recognized type correctly.
I remember that at least once in 332nd diary there was a mention of B-26 instead of B-25, but I believe that was a typo.
Zoran

[Graham Boak]

OK, but remember that Lancasters were not in use outside of the UK, and were not in use by SOE for supply dropping or indeed anything else. Also, perhaps, that Halifaxes existed in different shapes, specifically of noses, tail fins and engine cowlings.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Could a "black" B-24 (frequently used for SOE missions on that theater of operations) being "misidentified" as a Lancaster by some Mustang pilots?

We are aware in several publications and combat reports, that Aircraft Identification was not always a Black on White matter....

A.

[udf_00]

One Halifax with rectangular fins & another with triangular fins ?

[Graham Boak]

In The Halifax File there is a photo (RAAF 1785) showing 148 Sq aircraft setting off on a supply dropping mission. The leading aircraft is a Mk.II ser.1a - rectangular fins, revised nose, late standard flare dampers. The aircraft in the background is a Mk.V ser.1(Special) with the Tempsford nose and triangular fins.

So yes: a mix of these variants is likely.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Mixed Halifaxes

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C336520
BB338 "M" preparing for take-off. To its left is EB196 "E".
See: Trusty To The End/Clutton-Brock/Mention The War/2017/p.441.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C336517

Col.

[Graham Boak]

The top photo is the one I referred to. It is interesting that BB338 has been upgraded but EB196 has not.

They were taken in 1945, as the upper wing roundel type was not introduced until then. January 1st, although it may have taken some dys to be fully implemented in Italy.

[Franek Grabowski]

No Lancasters in the MTO. I have not looked into SD operations that far in 1945, so not sure what types were operated. Doubtless Halifaxes, possibly Stirlings and Liberators (ex-No 301 Sqn). I do not think it was possible to confuse Halifax with Halifax, but who knows?