No.97 Squadron losses 16-17 December 1943.

Target: Berlin

Lancaster III JA963. OF-Q
Lancaster III JB117. OF-C. Crashed NE of Graveley airfield Huntingdonshire.
Lancaster III JB119. OF-F. Crashed on return to base.
Lancaster III JB176. OF-K. Crashed on return to base.
Lancaster III JB219. OF-R. Crashed to the south of Gransden, Cambridgeshire.
Lancaster III JB243. OF-P. Crashed near Graveley airfield Huntingdonshire.
Lancaster III JB482. OF-S. Abandoned out of fuel, crashed North Sea.
Lancaster III JB531. OF-Y. Abandoned, crashed 4 miles NW of Orford Ness, Suffolk.

On their return to England many of the bombers encountered very low cloud at their bases. The Squadrons of 1, 6 and 8 Groups were particularly badly effected. 29 Lancaster's either crashed or were abandoned when their crews parachuted. The group with the heaviest losses was 1 Group with 13 aircraft lost; the squadron with the heaviest loss was No.97 Squadron.

Bomber Command Losses. W R. Chorley / Bomber Command War Diaries. Middlebrook - Everitt.

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