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Loss of Lancaster III ED625,103 Squadron, 1-4-43 on a dawn nuisance attack

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by bydand31, Feb 18, 2026.

  1. bydand31

    bydand31 Well-Known Member

    Whilst reading Don Charlwood, "No moon tonight" I came across this loss of ED625, see pages 178 to 180

    The second and last solo raid of S/L O'Donoghue & Crew.

    The first raid on the 20-3-43 being in ED 612 (Sunrise in Leer being 06:32)

    details below.
    20-3-43 ED612 Leer.png

    The second and last in ED625 (Sunrise in Ennerich being 07:10)

    1-4-43 ED625 Emmerich.png

    ED625 being a little over a week old.

    Lancaster - ED626

    This machine had a very short career of just over a week but was flown by 5 different crews in that time.
    22-Mar-43 - St Nazaire – Lancaster – ED626 – Sgt GDJ King
    26-Mar-43 – Duisburg – Lancaster – ED626 – F/S GM Maddern RAAF
    27-Mar-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – ED626 – F/S GM Maddern RAAF
    28-Mar-43 - St Nazaire – Lancaster – ED626 – W/O G Denwood
    29-Mar-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – ED626 – F/L KG Bickers
    01-Apr-43 – Emmerich – Lancaster – ED626 – S/L C O'Donoghue – FTR - Day fighter victim. Crashed at Hulsthorst, Netherlands.

    I do not recall much use of Lancaster's in hit and run, Nuisance raids with experienced crews this late in the War. Was this a one off and an individualist type raid? or a short lived testing of the waters again in bad weather. The Augsburg raid being a year earlier 17-4-42.

    Or indeed was the Lancaster the best options while the Mosquito were available and more suited.


    ED625 Shot down by Oberfeldwebel Fritz Timm of the 3/JG1 flying a Fw190A from Deelen airfield.

    ref.
    https://archive.org/details/nomoontonight0000char_t9f5/page/178/mode/1up
    Charles O'Donoghue and crew 103 Sqn
    Lancaster ED626 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database]
    https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...ails/2648084/charles-o-donoghue/#&gid=1&pid=2
     
    Quarterfinal likes this.
  2. Andy Marden

    Andy Marden Member

    A bit of confusion here, not helped by an incorrect serial being listed in the ORB.
    The aircraft lost was ED626.
    References to ED625 are incorrect. This was lost with 49 Sqn on the night of 10/11 August 1943.
     
  3. ResearchingResearching

    ResearchingResearching Active Member

    Superb book, I regard that as on a level with Rear Gunner Pathfinders by Ron Smith DFM which is my favourite.
     
  4. bydand31

    bydand31 Well-Known Member

    Thanks, added to my basket on Awesome books £3.46
     

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