Hi all. can anybody on the forum inform me what the code letter (ZN-?) was for the Lancaster DV274 attached to No.106 Squadron in November 1943 please? Best wishes, Mark.
Difficult to track down an aircraft letter unless it was involved in an event. As you have Wheeler's log book - the first call is to look at dates for all flights on the squadron and compare to ORB - sometimes you get lucky and a change of scribe for the orb moves from codes to serials and vice versa or the log book has code which you can match to serial. However as you move in date away from the month found codes can alter where aircraft were sent away for mods/3rd and 4th line servicing (when returned the previous code could have been reallocated) Another way is to look to see if a combat was mentioned in the log book on that serial and check AIR50 Combat reports. I see Wheeler has two listed for Dec and Jan Name: Wheeler Rank: Sergeant Squadron: 106 Other Dates of Combat: 02... | The National Archives Name: Wheeler Rank: Sergeant Squadron: 106 Other Dates of Combat: 01... | The National Archives Z and V are the codes listed for these aircraft Ross
Thanks very much Ross. The log book states every code letter bar the first operation. Thanks for the combat references. Found another when he transfers to No.83 Squadron. Cheers Ross.
You might find your query answered as below.The website is dedicated to Metheringham airfield and the only squadron based there during the war.....No 106 Squadron. HOME I cannot trace an Association for No 106 Squadron which normally affords a good starting point for research. For the record DV274 spent most of its service during the Battle for Berlin.As such it was transferred to No 463 Squadron in early December 1943 but FTR on a trip to Augsburg on 25/26 February 1944. I think the op you referred to in November 1943 was the one to Berlin on 18/19 November 1943.The aircraft had earlier been on its first trip on the squadron to Mannheim on 23/24 September 1943.Its second was a trip to Hanover on 18/19 October 1943.From the aircraft availability it would appear that it was u/s for some periods during its time on No 106 Squadron. The aircraft was also aborted twice on trips to Berlin while on strength to No 463 Squadron.
I used to belong to the Friends of Metheringham Airfield during the 1990s. I will have to join again ! HOME
I have always intended to visit the place but that was not to be.....perhaps next summer I always had a good look at the airfield on my way to RAF reunions at the Woodhall Spa Petwood Hotel and knew the layout of the airfield well. We were once looking at the RAF Memorial on leaving Petwood and saw a BBMF Spitfire flying over Metheringham. He must have seen us for he gave us a relatively low pass over the memorial. (Incidentally Guy Gibson's Operation Chastise Lancaster ED932 AJ- G was gutted at Metheringham in July 1947}
Hi Harry Yes - Roger Brindley at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre is the archivist there so he can answer most queries on 106 Squadron during their time there. The earlier period when they were based at RAF Syerston and RAF Coningsby I have done quite a bit of research on: www.106Squadron.com Regarding DV274 its second operation although to Hannover was actually on 27/28 Sep 1943 and it flew 14 operations from Syerston before transferring to Metheringham. Clive Smith
