Lancaster LL777

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

Lancaster LL 777 was damaged in the air battle of gießen in the night of 06.Dec.1944. The unit was the 61.Sqd. Pilot J.H. Byers. He an Sgt. Cartwright surrived the crashlanding in belgium.

The others, eccept one gunner,bailed out.

What happens with LL777? Damaged by flak or nightfighter and what happens with the rest of the crew?

Any information is welcome.
Thank you.
Greetings

[Alain57]

Hello ,

Perhaps this can help :
06/12/1944
Ursel (B67) Belgium
Lancaster I
Nightfighter
4 Bailed out ( POW )
Giessen
LL-777
61Sqn
QR-S
Skellingthorpe
F/O Byers I.H. RNZAF
Sgt Morris T.V 1817517 (POW) L/1296
F/O Neave W.R.R 421391 RNZAF (POW) Luft 1
Sgt Harsley R.B. 1495739 (POW) L7/1283
Sgt Cartwright G.F
Sgt Ashworth Earshaw 519749 gunner (KIA) 28 year , buried Brussels
F/S Hardy H.P.L 1424855 (POW) L7/1282

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Thank you very much Alain,

have anybody informations about the crew members who bailed out. I´m searching the place where there are captured.

Sgt Morris T.V 1817517 (POW) L/1296
F/O Neave W.R.R 421391 RNZAF (POW) Luft 1
Sgt Harsley R.B. 1495739 (POW) L7/1283
F/S Hardy H.P.L 1424855 (POW) L7/1282

Thanks again.

[Peglar]

On 6th December 1944 two Lancasters of 61 Sqdn were lost on an operation to Giessen. LL777 - crew - Sgt E. Ashworth was killed by a night fighter, Sgt G.F. Cartwright was killed when the aircraft crashed, not obeying the order to bale out ? The rest of the crew, F/O I.H. Byers, F/O W.R.R. Neave, F/Sgt H.P.L. Hardy, Sgt T.V. Morris and Sgt R.B. Harsley baled out and became POWs when the aircraft crashed landed on an airfield in Belgium.

ME725 was lost too crash site is well known. Sgt A.H.Steers and Sgt L.Ayres are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery while F/Lt J.H.Vincent, F/O C.A.Donnelly, F/Sgt R.G.D.Brock, F/Sgt F.D.Green and Sgt T.Kerrigan became POWs.

Peglar

[Alain57]

Gentlemen ,

I " think " that the pilot crashlanded the aircraft at B-67 airfield and that the crew bailed out over german held territory. Almost entire Belgium was liberated in september 1944 , so it wouls be strange that they became POW when the bailed out near the airfield of Ursel.

Greetings
Alain57