Could someone tell me if Sergeant Bolt, was the tail gunner? Dutch Airwar Studygroup 1939-1945 Loss Chart on: T3118 Day or Night of operation Operation Target 26/27 Nov 43 - Berlin Factory Aircraft Mk Serial/Wnr. Call Sign Unit Air Force TO/t Airfield AVRO Lancaster III ED809 CF-T 625 Sqdn RAF 1722 Kelstern Time Cause of the Crash Crash Location Damage Province 2302 Shot down by NF Uffz. Amsberg of III/NJG 1 Crashed near 'Varenna' estate Apeldoorn Gelderland Source Mag / Page Additional sources Chorley W.R. 'Bomber Command Losses 1943' 407 "55 namen op Heidehof" p.47-51 for story, details and pictures; Archive H. Welting for crew data Function Mil Rank Ini Name Hon Mil reg Air Force Cemetery Grave Remark Pilot F/O. R. McSorley J/21393 RCAF Apeldoorn 4 294-298 Flight engineer Sgt. B.L. Gooding 1851689 RAF Apeldoorn 4 294-298 Navigator F/O. G.F.R. Green 132744 RAF Apeldoorn 4 294-298 Bomb aimer F/O. J.D. Lynch J/22422 RCAF Groesbeek RCAF 15 A 5 Wo ag Sgt. E.L. Foulkes 1034817 RAF Apeldoorn 4 294-298 Air gunner F/O. P.R. Paice 152004 RAF Apeldoorn 4 294-298 Air gunner Sgt. N. Bolt 1836087 RAF Runnymede Memorial 143 mia
Well, this site states he was the mid upper gunner SpitfireSpares.com - warbird Reference However, as no remains were identified as his, there is no real way of knowing so many years on. Sometimes the gunners would swap positions, possibly during the flight. Often, as the turret could be rotated sideways, the rear gunner could bale out from the rear doors of the turret independently of the rest of the crew and be separated by some distance from where the rest of the crew landed or the aircraft crashed. Perhaps someone with more knowledge will clarify, rather than my guess.
Listed as Mid-Upper on the loss card for ED809, pages 30-31 on the link below. http://www.lancasterbombers.net/Loss_Cards/1943/Nov_43/Nov_43_Pt6/files/book.swf
Panel from Runnymede SergeantBOLT, NELSON Service Number 1836087 Died 26/11/1943 625 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Avro's Lancaster emergency exit was designated as as the floor hatch at the Bomb Aimer's /Front Gunner's station.For the forward 5 crew members this was relatively accessible. For the MU Gunner,it would present an ordeal to climb across the wing spar to get to the front of the aircraft.Therefore, I would think the MU Gunner would opt to leave the aircraft by the back door (situated on the starboard side) and take his chance in not hitting the tailplane. (the reason why the emergency exit was situated in the front of the aircraft) The Rear Gunner's emergency exit would be achieved by rotating the turret 180 degrees,using hydraulic power or if not available,by manually rotating the turret.then opening the rear shutters to bale out.This emergency exit was improved with the introduction from June 1944, in No 1 Group of the Rose Turret which was equipped with two Browning .50in guns.The guns were configured such that there was adequate space between them for the gunner to leave and bale out of the aircraft without rotating the turret.
You're absolutely right, Harry. Some years ago, I was sent a copy of the Lancaster evacuation drill. As you can see, the MUG was to go out the rear door, ensuring he sat first to avoid being hit by the tailplane.
