Lancaster LM206 crash from 514 Squadron

Slipdigit · #1 (**permalink**) July 24th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Moderator note:

This thread created for discussion of Lancaster LM206 of 514 Squadron, lost NW of Neufchateau.

Copied from thread:
New Recruit here.

Skipper wrote:

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hello Claire, welcome to the forum. It is great to meet you! I know quite a lot about this Operation. Lancaster LM206 was shot down by Heinz Rökker and crashed near Coussey NW of Neufchateau (not Chateauneuf) . Thomas Harvell and Heinz Rökker have been there together to lay a wreath on the crew's graves (G. Robinson survived as a pow ) . They have become very good friends and are both Honor citizens of the city of Neufchateau since 2006. The story is mentionned in a small book published by Herr Rökker in 2006 called: Ausbildung und Einsatz eines Nachtjägers im II Weltkrieg (VDM) ISBN 3-86619-008-5. I have studied this story because Herr Rökker has shot down another Lancaster the same night above my hometown. Besides we have a great thread for another 514 crew (Alex Campbell) whose pilot is a RCAF WWII Vet and member of this forum. You may jump in and post at our thread there. (Easy to find in the Europe at war section) .
Ps: I will be on a holiday for a week as off tomorrow, but when I return I will tell you all about it and give you my email. I have pictures of the graves too.

Skipper wrote:

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Here a re a few links related to your father's crew.

BBC - WW2 People's War - Adventures of Tom Harvell Part 1

BBC - WW2 People's War - Adventures of Tom Harvell part 2

Aviation Prints, Graeme Lothian

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...LD:en%26sa%3DN

Claire wrote:

Quote:

Dear Skipper,

Thank you so much for the information. It is very much appreciated and I know my father will be delighted. It is quite sad that my father missed the wreath laying. I went with my father in 1999 to visit the graves of his fellow crew. He was so pleased to find them, he flew all his missions with them.
He was taken POW and sent to Stallag 7 and released at the end of the war. He does not know he was shot down by Heinz, he thought it was anti aircraft fire, he could not remember Thomas's name but he guessed he may have made it as he could not find his body in the wreckage, he saw all the others. My father came down near the wreckage, his boots blown off in the explosion, along with his eardrum being blown out, and being concussed for a period. He was quickly picked up and detained. It will be the anniversary of this event next week, my mother and I have ordered him a copy of the painting, which we would like him to sign as well, and will give him all the information. I know he will thrilled to find out what really happened and what happened to Thomas. He is now 87 and lives in South Africa. This will be a delight for him. Do you have a contact for Thomas? and where is the museum with engine? I am in Brussels at the moment and want to make a mad dash to photograph the engine before the anniversary next week. once again Thank you and have a good holiday
Regards
Claire

Claire · #2 (**permalink**) July 24th, 2008, 05:58 PM

Dear Slipd,

Thanks for organising this post, I got in contact with Thomas Harvell and we had along conversation. He was very interesting and we shall keep in contact. In my last post I said my father was a pow in Stallag 7, that is incorrect he was in Stalag luft VII. I still have no confirmation on whether that piece of the engine is in St Dizier any one any ideas? Thanks

Skipper · #3 (**permalink**) July 29th, 2008, 07:13 AM

Hello Claire, Just wanted to let you know I'm back on the field. Glad you made contact with Mr Harvell, this is wonderful news. I will try to find out more about this engine.

Claire · #4 (**permalink**) August 6th, 2008, 08:29 AM

Hi Skipper,
I know who has one of the engines, a local farmer, it fell into his river, he retreived it, but did not get to meet him on my trip down to Neufchateau, maybe next time......... I met with wonderful people who gave me a lot of information about the crash, and also vsisted the approximate crash site, very interesting ..at present am researching which missions my Dad flew on, as his memory is a bit hazy!.....

Skipper · #5 (**permalink**) August 6th, 2008, 08:52 AM

Hi Claire, I don't believe you missed a lot about the engine and don't think one farmer could have retrieved an entire Rolls Royce Merlin engine with a tractor, especially from a River. Even the German Bergung Commandos could not retrieve those systematically from there and they had cranes and tripods. It would likeley be a piece of the engine , but I'd be surprised if the engine block was there too, we are talking about several thousands kilos here. Now everything is possible with those sly farmers. At my hometown, neither the Germans nor the French could retrieve the four half buried engines. So they are still buried there, until they were forgotten and someone build a house on top of them some decades ago. I have one local example of a Rolls Rolls engine that was retrieved in 1944. The Germans were so proud of their job that they put it on dipslay for several months. Usually they'd managed to get them out but bits by bits. In Normandy a lady called me to come and look at a "Lancaster wing" in her barn. When I finally got there, it appreared to be the main longeron, which is still an impressive 5 meter long piece, but is just a big spar and not the entire wing.

Claire · #6 (**permalink**) August 8th, 2008, 08:40 AM

Hi Skipper,

I agree, I was given a newspaper cutting of the farmer next to his piece of 'engine', he had tried to sell it to museums, there were no takers so it remains in his barn..

Milavia · #7 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2008, 10:58 AM

Hi Skipper, It is great to now have access to the forum and I thank you for your kind assistance in this regard.

My father’s brother (my uncle) was Sgt Robert (Bob) Lane No 1895981 514 Squadron Royal Air Force, born at Hereford in 1914. Bob went down over France the night of 28/29th July 1944. I am sure this is the same Bob Lane Mid-upper Gunner mentioned by Thomas Henry Harvell in his Article A5655521“Adventures of Tom Harvell Part 1”.
I am fortunate to possess: 1) Notice that appeared in a local paper at the time “Grave of English Airman – Stonehouse Mother’s Visit to French Cemetery”. 2) Letter 20/12/1944 from Sgt. Thomas H. Hanwell to Bobs mother (my Grandmother) in which he outlines the series of events surrounding the fate of Bob that tragic night. (Are Sgt Thomas H. Hanwell and Thomas Henry Harvell one of the same?) 3) Bob’s Scroll of Honour. 4) Photograph of Bob and 11 comrades taken outside one of the huts with a plaque “No 124COURSE Air Gunners Squad 22 date 4/11/43”. I also received today from Sqd 514 a listing of the Ops that Bob did at 514 Squadron for which I am eternally grateful.
During her visit to Neuefchateau in 1946, my grandmother received photographs of the grave from Miss Louis Yvonne who secretly took the pictures and regularly tended the grave. Sadly these pictures are missing but I hope to visit the cemetery shortly.
I am keen to obtain more information about Bob, who I understand “was the oldest member of the crew, having seen a great deal of life”, and to contact other relatives of the crew.
I am so pleased to be on board.

Milavia

Slipdigit · #8 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2008, 01:20 PM

Welcome Milavia, glad you could make it in.

Skipper · #9 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2008, 03:11 PM

Good to have you here. I have been studying the Stuttgart Operation since 2003. I know Thomas Harvell and a relative of Mr Robinson. As soon a si have time I will post pictures of Neufchateau.

I took the liberty to move your postings to the Neufchateau Lancaster (LM206) thread.

Milavia · #10 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2008, 05:08 PM

Good move, you are a star thank you. I will get the hang of this sometime I guess!
The best
Milavia

Skipper · #11 (**permalink**) December 5th, 2008, 05:14 PM

You are welcome, Tomorrow I will have the time to sort my files out for you.
On Saturday morning I will be away though, I am hunting for WWII relics at our local fleemarket. I usually find some great items for small prices there

bigfun · #12 (**permalink**) December 6th, 2008, 01:06 AM

What a great thread!! I'll be watching for more!! And Welcome to you both! Thanks fo sharing all of this with us!

Milavia · #13 (**permalink**) December 8th, 2008, 02:32 PM

Re: re my uncle Sgt Bob Lane 514 Squadron LB LM206
I had a very interesting and long telephone conversation with Thomas Harvell yesterday and now know a lot more about that fateful night of 28th/29th July 1944. I have sent him copy photograph of 12 members of 124 Course Air Gunners Squad 22 taken Waterbeach 4 Nov 1943, also press cutting on his visit to Neufchateau with the crews parents in 1946. I would dearly like to make contact with Claire Robinson and would be pleased initially to receive a private message for this purpose. Needless to add I would be pleased to hear from anyone else who may have information on Bob Lane and LB LM206.

Skipper · #14 (**permalink**) December 9th, 2008, 06:05 AM

Glad you are in touch with Thomas Harvell. He is a great man isn't he? I will contact you later today when I return from work and will give you claire's details. Mr Robinson currently lives in South Africa. I will also send you pictures of Neufchatel.

Milavia · #15 (**permalink**) December 9th, 2008, 10:06 AM

Hi Skip,
Just to let you know I sent Claire a PM and heard from her this morning.

She is currently in South Africa with George - now 87 - and I am sure we will continue to keep in regular contact with each other.

Things just continue to get better and better dont they!

Skipper · #16 (**permalink**) December 9th, 2008, 10:50 AM

Excellent, you have been doing great so far! Please send my regards to Claire. She must be delighted to be in touch with you. This is my lunch break, I will be home after a few more hours of work and will be able to look for the documents you requested.

Skipper · #17 (**permalink**) December 10th, 2008, 07:23 AM

I have just sent pictures of your uncle's grave to your email address

Milavia · #18 (**permalink**) December 10th, 2008, 01:11 PM

Duly received thank you. In return I have sent some pictures to your e-mail address earlier today.
The best

Skipper · #19 (**permalink**) December 11th, 2008, 04:31 PM

they arrived safely too! thanks a lot. I have written a Christmas card to T Harvell today and mentionned meeting you.