Lancaster ND362 PM-Q

Hi All

Trying to trace the fate of the above aircraft - officially lost without trace in the vicinity of Aachen on 28 May 1944. The aircraft was part of 103 Squadron RAF.

My interest in this aircraft and its crew is that - Frederick Mustoe was my work colleagues mum's first husband - and we are trying to find what happened to him.

Also, two of the crew are believed to be Canadian:- Gordon Kimmins and Marco Vedovato - it would be nice to know where they originated and how they came to join the ill fated crew.

As always - your help is much appreciated

Regards

John

 

Hello John

11 Chaps from 103 Sqn, RAF (Not including RCAF) killed on the 28.5.1944

001 BEER R H 151422 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
002 CLEVEY W A 1266119 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
003 EDWARDS W A 1652947 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
004 JONES A V M 149560 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
005 LEGGETT T G 117474 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
006 MUSTOE F C 1339911 103 SDN SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
007 OLLIER L 50687 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE
008 RAY J 1483955 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
009 VEDOVATO M J H 1572134 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
010 WARLOW N P 1628087 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
011 WILKS A A 148331 103 SQDN 28/05/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

Thanks to Goeff's Wonderful WW2 Search Engine

 

John

I can only offer the following, much of which you already have.

103 Sqn Lancaster III ND362 PM-Q Op: Aachen

S/L L Ollier DFC AFM +
Sgt J Ray +
F/O G P J Kimmins RCAF +
Sgt F C Mustoe +
F/S W A Clevey +
Sgt M J H Vedovato +
Sgt N P Warlow +

T/o 2341 Elsham Wolds. Lost without trace. All commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BCL Losses Vol 5 1944 W R Chorley
May also be worth contacting the webmaster at this site.

http://rafelshamwolds.com/

Regards,

Nick

 

Some more..

27/28 May 1944

Aachen

162 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 1,3 and 8 Groups to attack the Rothe Erde railway yards. 12 Lancasters lost, 7.0 per cent of the force.

The railway lines at the yards, which were not serioustly hit in the raid of 2 nights earlier, were now severely damaged and all through traffic halted. A large proportion of delayed action bombs were dropped. The bombing also hit the nearby Aachen suberb of Forst which in the words of our local expert Hubert Beckers, 'was razed to the ground.' The local hospital, an army barracks, an army-stores office, 2 police posts and 21 industrial buildings were hit, as well as 603 houses. 167 people were killed and 164 injured. The local people were impressed thet the whole raid only lasted 12 minutes.

The Bomber Command War Diaries 1939-1945 M Middlebrook and C Everitt

 

Thanks to Drew5233 and Nicks for helping me build a picture of the night in question - very much appreciated.

John

 

Hi All

Is there a way of checking/finding the flight plan for the Lancaster of 103 Squadron?

John

 

I'm not sure but I would have thought that the route would have been recorded in Sqn ORB, which would be at Kew.

TNA 103 Sqn ORB

 

Email The RAF Museum and ask them for the "Loss Card" for Lancaster ND362:

Contact the Department of Research & Information Services

Takes about 20 days and is free of charge. The route (latitudes and longitudes, including turning points) are on the card.

 

John

I am aware that you now have, through the sterling efforts of other forum members, pretty comprehensive details about ND362 PM-Q .

If however you need any info that is contained in "Avro Lancaster- The Definitive Record by Harry Holmes, I own a copy and will be glad to find any relevant details for you.

This book stood me in good stead when I was researching my brother's death in 166 Sqdrn.

Best regards

Ron

 

John there seems to be the appearance of at least 4-5 103 sqdn. bombers attacked by German Night fighters this night, though none have been credited confirmed by individual LW crews.

E ~

 

Hi All

Thanks to all for your help - I am arranging a trip to London in April to search for other RAF related subjects - Kew is on my list - promises to be a busy day - as regards "loss Cards" I was oblivious to there existance - thanks for pointing me in the right directions.

Regards

John

 

Be careful in Kew. I got distracted by other stuff and ended up not getting to see all I wanted to. Mind you the stuff I got distracted by was fascinating!
Dee

 

I am Len Olliers Grand daughter and have some info including photos, his medals

 

Kate
Welcome to the forum
Any information/photo's you can add will help to build a bigger picture

 

I am Len Olliers Grand daughter and have some info including photos, his medals


Hello Kate, welcome to the forum. Please post the details that you have it will add to this thread and will be of interest to many.

Regards
Peter

 

Hi John,
I am the daughter of the Pilot of ND 362. My father was Squadron Leader Leonard Ollier DFC AFM.
I would be interested in hearing from you. We found you whilst researching on behalf of our Grandson who is doing a project on WW2 at school.
Any information you can give would be good. I may have some things of use .
Kimmins was definitely a member of the crew and was Canadian. I have a copy of a letter to his relations.
Best wishes
Elizabeth Bewley-Jones nee Elizabeth Loraine Ollier

 

From Francis Mason's "The Avro Lancaster" Aston Publishers) 1989.
ND362 UL Q2 (the letters on her fuselage to identify the squadron and the "letter" allocated to the aircraft) ,of 576 Squadron.
Mason identifies some raids on which the aircraft flew.

29/30-12-43- Berlin.
14/15- 1-44 - Brunswick.
27/28-1-44 Berlin.
15/16-2-44 Berlin.
19/20-2-44 Leipzig.
24/25-2-44 Schweinfurt.
15/16-3-44. Stuttgart.

With 103 Squadron Aachen 27/28-5-44. Missing on this raid.

 

Hello Ron,
I am the daughter of the pilot of ND362 PM Q. My name is Elizabeth Bewley-Jones nee Elizabeth Loraine Ollier. I have been trying to find more info re my Dad. My 10 year old grandson Max is doing a project for school I came across this site today. I had been told that the plane might have gone down in the North Sea. Any clarification would be useful.
Regards
Elizabeth

 

There does not appear to be a night fighter claim for the aircraft, possibly fighter or damage from flak , engine failure .....

 

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