Here's more Erich. Some shells I'm sure came from behind and slightly below. However from the torn metal over the fuel tanks it could have been caused by firing from below. The first attack took out the windscreen along with my DR compass. Both port engines ablaze, a heavy stream of flaming gasoline from the tanks.
The moon was 1/2 to 3/4 full. I caught a fleeting glimpse of the fighter off to starboard as he banked around for another attack which succeeded in disabling the starboard inner engine. We spent the first few days in a safe house near an airdrome. Every day radar equipped Ju88's took off right over our heads as the U/C was retracting. We were not far from Chateaudun at that time. Enough for now. Skipper, E.A Campbell

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I've been doing a little more digging ( sorry, it's a hobby and I can't help it ! [img]smile.gif[/img] ) and the Lancaster was LL692, one of a batch of 100 Hercules-powered Mk II's built by Armstrong Whitworth at Coventry. Originally with 115 Squadron, it was a survivor of the early-1944 Berlin raids ( as from 2nd January ) and also the notorious Nuremburg Raid of 30/31 March.

The aircraft crashed near the village of St. Cloud-en-Dunois, 8km SSE of Chateaudun.

Above info culled from Chorley, Francis K Mason's 'Avro Lancaster' and an anonymous website which I Googled into....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Martin,
I am impressed with what you have been able to discover and share with us about the Lanc that Dad was flying - very interesting. I believe that Dad's friend, Bob Giffin, is buried at St. Cloud-en-Dunois. Bob was seriously injured during the attack of July 28, 1944.
Talking to Dad last night he mentioned that the Halifax and Lancaster Mk 2 looked very similar from behind, at night it would be easy to make a mistake.

Regards, E.W. Campbell

did your dads Lanc have a name - nose art ?

friends Peter Spoden as well as Heinz Rökker for just two German NF aces both have said on numerous occassions they did not know 100 % what they were attacking and the proof is clarified in the Abschuße listings of 1 4-motor in their log books

Erich,

I believe this image shows the nose art on A2-C.
http://www.hilaroad.com/RCAF/514%20S...n/target8.html

Dad will probably verify this later.
E.W. Campbell

E.W. A fine looking crew and super photos. Your father is a handsome man then and now. the lovely lady any relation ?

senidng you a private in a few moments

Erich

Alex I have sent your son a private message this morn with one of the German pilots address's so that you may contact him personally and hopeful someone on hand can translate a letter into German for you as this will make it much easier for the communique'

you should get a very favourable response from him

Erich

Martin- Don't apologize for your hobby, I respect it and enjoy your input. Please keep it up.
Erich- The nose art pictured is on the replacement A2 C. We were going to label our C Charlie as the Adelphi Queen after Miller Gordon's Adelphi Hotel in Glasgow Scotland. Would you give me a translation to the slogan beside the coat of arms? I didn't know Wayne had posted all those photos. The lovely lady is his mother and my wife. Bye for now and cheers EAC

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Alex my signature is thus :

Grüneburg in Germany where several of my familie still reside.

the phrase in the literal was laid at my cousins gravesite in Holtensen, Germany back in 1999. My cousin Siegfried Baer was shot down in action while chasing US B-24's on November 26, 1944. He was flying a Fw 190A-9 fighter and downed most likely by Mustangs of the 2nd SF or 355th fighter group.

the phrase means : only those, which one forgets, are truly dead

pretty fitting I believe. and yes I thought that may well have been your wife in the photo, beautiful woman Alex.

Erich

Erich, wonderful epitaph for your cousin.

I have posted an image of an old map of the area around Chateaudun including Freteval Forest, the forest that was the refuge for 100's of allied troops, including crew members of A2-C, while they waited liberation.
http://www.hilaroad.com/RCAF/freteval/freteval_map.htm

E. W. Campbell

I have an original Luftwaffe map of Southern France. Incredible enought Chateaudun just fell off the map! Freteval Forest is on it!!! What a bummer! My map stops at Cloyes, a mere two miles south of Chateaudun.....

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www.basher82.nl

I forget which famous General lamented that great battles are always fought where two maps join....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Hehehehehehehe.....I know...I shouldn't have been surprised...

I can't get a sharp image. I'll try again later tonight. In the top middle you see Ft de Freteval. Just above that CLOYES...If you can read it... [img]redface.gif[/img]

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www.basher82.nl

Alex, this video has stirred up a whole new avenue for all of us! Great to see so much info flowing through the computers.
I have sent it off to all of my 514 SQUADRON contacts and have had a great response from all of them.
I will watch with great interest!

Wendy

Wendy:

welcome to the board, would like to see you personally add where needed or have the gents come on over for tea and pass along some memories. I think truly several of us "old" time members here really enjoy being able to help those out with data collected over the years. Safe to say if we are able we will help.

"Du bist nicht am Ende wenn du verlierst, du bist am Ende wenn du aufgibst !"

Erich

Dad sent me a couple of images of maps from the period. One, "Captains of Aircraft", shows the route to Stuttgart. They are posted here:
http://www.hilaroad.com/RCAF/freteva...rcraft_map.htm

E.W. Campbell

I have been doing research on the squadron for about 8 years- My Dad was a Canadian Navigator and met my Mum who was a WAAF in the Sgts, Mess.
They were married at Waterbeach in 1944- came back to Canada after the war, and the rest is history.
Both have passed away, but in my research I have been able to reunite men from approx 25 crews that served at Waterbeach.

Erich,

Look for a private message with a draft letter from my Dad re. contacting Leutnant Straßner.

E. Wayne Campbell

For those of you who have been following this thread, it appears that Leutnant Straßner is likely the pilot of the JU 88 that took down my Dad's Lancaster on the night of July 28, 1944. Dad has composed a letter to Leutnant Straßner with some details of the attack that may confirm wether or not this is the case. We are in the process of having a neighbur translate the letter into German. Erich has offered to use his resources and attempt to deliver this letter to Straßner or someone who knew him. Letter below:

Letter to Leutnant Straßner from F/L E.A. Campbell

Herr Straßner:
Could it be that you and I have met before? It is possible. The following will briefly outline the events leading up to the hour of midnight on July 28th 1944.
Lancaster A2 C from RAF Sqdn 514 was on a southeasterly course south of Chateaudun approaching Orleans. We were in a cloud layer which was only some 500 feet thick and was diminishing. The wireless operator reported an aircraft approaching from the rear and slightly below our altitude. It slowed down to our speed and then remained in that position. One or two more aircraft soon appeared and took up similar positions only further out to the sides. The gunners were unable as yet to obtain any visual contact. Just before midnight the wireless operator informed me that he was leaving the "visual monica set" in order to tune into base for any possible changes or instructions.
Suddenly we came to the end of the cloud and out into clear bright moonlight. The rear gunner shouted "Fighter-Port-Go" while at the same time shells came thumping into our aircraft. The two port engines caught fire as the fuel tanks were ripped open and set ablaze. The windscreen was taken out along with my DR compass. I caught just a fleeting glimpse of what appeared to be a JU88 banking away. A second attack put out the starboard inner engine.
I had alerted the crew to "Put on parachutes" then shortly after that to "Abandon Aircraft,Jump Jump Jump". We carried a second pilot that night who was severely injured in the attack and died the next day. The navigator who suffered leg injuries was unable to run and was taken prisoner. The rest of us evaded capture and with much help from the resistance workers were able to make our way back to England.
We flew a Mark2 Lancaster which is equipped with Bristol Hercules Radial engines. This, I am sure, accounted for us being sometimes identified as a Halifax bomber. The two aircraft would present a very similar silhouette especially from behind.
Some of us were sheltered in a "safe house" which was close to an airfield. JU88's would take off and climb just over our heads. The wheels would still be rotating as the undercarriage was retracting. On the nose of each aircraft was mounted a large array of forward facing antennae. I believe the runway was just to the east of us.
We were an experienced crew on our 25th operation. So far we had survived quite a number of fighter attacks by several different types of planes. I would like to say that the aircraft that brought us down was in the hands of a well trained crew that coordinated and carried out a brilliant attack.You are to be commended.
I hope this will be of interest to you.
Flight Lieutenant E.A. Campbell RCAF (Ret)

Wayne, do not despair I have your dad's letter here before me, about ready to translate and send off to the appropriate veteran(s). The flu has not left me and is sticking like glue ........

will be in touch

Erich ~

Erich,

Sorry to hear you are still in the grip of this flue that is going around.
If the translation turns out to be too big of a task, let us know, Dad has a German speaking neighbour who is willing to help with this. We appreciate your interest and support in this endeavour.

Wayne

Gentlemen, I & I'm sure many other members are watching this thread with real fascination !

Do please keep us all posted..... [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Yes, I agree. The letter makes you feel the terror the crew felt during the attack. Interesting about the second pilot also. I think that was rare.

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

TA152.The second pilot bit could be cleared up somewhat. This does refer to another pilot. In this case he was the pilot and captain of a new crew all set to go on "Ops" or operations against the enemy. They had completed their various courses both on the ground and in the air. To gain operational experience it was usual to assign the skipper to accompany a seasoned crew on an actual trip. This trip was referred to as a "second dickie" trip and often prompted snide remarks and a recall of old superstitions of which there was a never ending supply. I appreciate your interest .
Martin_ This forum is truly a remarkable example of modern wizardry. I feel privileged to be part of it. By the way can you tell me how to get Stevin's map on my monitor? It just won't fit and I'd like to see it.