On the night of the 19th June 1943, 50 Squadron suffered the loss of Lancaster W4932 at Dunholm Lodge Airfield, the entire crew were lost including Sgt 1319393 Douglas Hartley Nichols, who pre war was a Police Constable in the Southampton City Police. I have located conflicting reports of the cause of the loss, some indicate the loss followed a night bombing exercise others state that it was lost en-route to the Le Creusot raid. Is anyone able to confirm please? Many thanks, Derek
Alan, My mistake - I had not been monitoring the responses on that forum and missed it. I will send you a PM later this evening. Kind regards, Derek
Is this a keepings off thread? It would be nice to see the answer to a question that was asked on this forum. Members take their time to assist and then nothing. Geoff
I know this is probably a lost thread and the answer my have been found but I was recently asking my father about my family history regarding WW2 and my great uncle roger was flight engineer for the no.50 squadron, according to my dad and grandfather the crew lost in the accident was because they were out on a joyride after the Lancaster had been repaired or something and some unknown failure occurred resulting in the plane crashing and the crew onboard dying, if anyone does know more then please let me know, I do hope what I have answered can help
Lost this aircraft had a total of 156 hours. W4932 crashed 0156 19 June 1943 2 miles SE of Dunholme Lodge Airfield Lincs whilst engaged on night-bombing practice. Lancaster I W4932 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] Sergeant ( Flt. Engr. ) Roger Desmond Landers...
file:///C:/Users/plumt/Downloads/Operational%20History%201943.pdf June 19 1943 Lancaster W4932 crashed near Grange De Lings, adjacent RAF Dunholme Lodge at around 2am while on a Night Training Exercise (‘Bulls-eye’?) killing the entire crew; all were listed “Killed In Action”. The cause of the crash is not known as yet. Pilot 1317863 Sgt. John Edwin HILL RAFVR, age 21, buried in Northam St. Margaret Churchyard, Sec A Grave 3. F/E 1607349 Sgt. Roger Desmond LANDERS RAFVR, age 20, buried in Lincoln (Newport) cemetery, Sec G Grave 290 North NAV R/ 120129 Sgt. Neville George SMITH RCAF, age 20, buried in Lincoln (Newport) cemetery, Sec G Grave 291 South AB 1319393 Sgt. Douglas Hartley NICHOLLS RAFVR, age 26, buried in Southampton (St. Mary Extra) churchyard, Section H.46 Grave 171 WOP/ AG 1131694 Sgt. William Newton LANCASTER RAFVR, age 21, buried in Leck St. Peter cemetery, Lancashire, N.W. corner AG F/Sgt. Jack Walter FEAGAN RCAF, age 22, buried Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery Sec G grave 291 North AG R/ 85566 Sgt. (W.O. Posthumously) Thomas Joseph SHIELDS RCAF, age 23, buried in Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery Sec G grave 290 South. Average Age= 21 years. 1943 Lincolnshire aviation Incident Logs. - BCAR.org.uk TD
Hi Vicky, The Rear Gunner Thomas Shields service file has been digitised and has a report on the accident. I hope it answers some of your questions. © 1997-2020 Ancestry.com
