115 Squadron Lancaster LL864 8 Jun 1944 shootdown

[Siko54]

Hi all,

Just a quick request for a friend, who is the nephew of the pilot (RP Maude) of 115 Sqn C flight Lancaster LL864, KIA with his crew on 8 Jun 1944 when he was shotdown by a nightfighter. He has been trying to find the correct markings of his Uncle's Lancaster and has narrowed it down to A4-H or A4-H2.

Can anyone provide any assistance on what the correct code would be? Thank you

[RSwank]

The June 1944 squadron records can be viewed (or downloaded for free with a sign-on) here:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8386814

Just viewing on line is sometimes hard, but it appears that the plane was A4-H.

It shows with the Maude crew for the June 8 mission and also a previous June mission.

See image page 11 of 32.

[Siko54]

Thanks and you’re right about the A4-H. He did tell why he thought it could have been A4-H2 but I would assume the ORB would be correct. Thank you for your help, I’ve posted him towards this thread so hopefully he’ll pop in and say hello.

Cheers

[MW Giles]

Have not seen a 115 Sqn a/c listed with a squared code letter (e.g. H2)

Given that C Flight was given a different squadron code to A and B Flights (A4 instead of KO) this would have reduced further any need to have more than one A4-H on the unit

Given what it says in the ORB I feel A4-H2 is unlikely

One suggestion, the way A4 was rendered on the side of the fuselage with a large A and a small 4 high up could have left an impression in the memory that superscripts were used.

Regards

Martin

[Siko54]

Martin that's absolutely brilliant thank you!

[Rottler]

According to the Bomber Command Loss Card (7th June - 9th June 1944 page 17) the code was H2.

Regards
Leo

[Siko54]

Well I never...I can see why my friend was confused now.

[MW Giles]

ND790 KO-H was also lost that night, which might explain why the loss sheet has H2 for LL864 as the sheet only lists Sqn no and code letter, not the squadron code KO or A4

Martin

[Siko54]

Originally Posted by MW Giles

ND790 KO-H was also lost that night, which might explain why the loss sheet has H2 for LL864 as the sheet only lists Sqn no and code letter, not the squadron code KO or A4

Martin

Ah hah! So in summary, it was likely A4-H but because there were two "H"s lost that night to the Squadron, his was recorded as "H2" in the loss card only?

[MW Giles]

Only a guess but I would tend to go with the squadron ORB as the loss cards are filled in centrally

Happy to be proven wrong if someone can find a photo of a C Flight a/c with a squared code letter

Martin