LANCASTER LM 178 of 300 Squadron

Big Daddy · Jan 24, 2016

Here are a couple of the photos I took of the memorial at Faldingworth, for those who have not been there.

Skipper · Jan 24, 2016

I recognize PB252 and its Polish crew that crashed at Lailly en Val. We had a great commemoration there a couple of years ago with the Polish Ambassador and some of the families. The ambassador is a great guy and is very interested in history as well as aviation. He came watch the relics and it was fun to talk to him (in German, as he spoke better German than French ) and his catering staff is worth 4 stars believe me.

James Thorne · Jul 13, 2021

Big Daddy said: ↑

Sam's crew began operations in May 1944 with 626 Sqn. based at RAF Wickenby in Lincolnshire. Pilot William Robinson flew 2nd dickey on May 24th with the crew of P/O Torrance on a mission to Aachen. On May 27th they flew their first operation (to Aachen again) as a full crew...

Pilot P/O William W. Robinson J.19883
F/Eng Sgt. Ernest L. Morter 1800371
Bomb Aimer F/O Thomas F. Gallagher J.28805
Navigator F/O C.M. "Joe" Forman J.25870
Wireless Op Sgt. Leslie T.J. Page 1581304
Mid Upper Gunner Sgt. James I. Rheubottom R.196199
Rear Gunner Sgt. Samuel Dunseith R.151859

According to the ORBs, they flew six more missions, all in the same aircraft, Lancaster III PA989 "U2". Their last mission with 626 Sqn was on June 11th, 1944. PA989 was lost on a mission to Russelheim on Aug 25, 1944. Two of the crew were killed and the rest became POWs.

In mid-June, they arrived at Faldingworth with several other Commonwealth crews sent to bolster the ranks of Polish 300 Sqn. At that time, 300 Sqn had been only able to muster up to eight crews for Bomber Command. These crews were kept in "A" Flight while the other Commonwealth crews formed "B" Flight. (Many thanks to Gregor for the 300 Sqn ORBs he sent to me.)

Coincidentally, they arrived at almost the exact same time as Lancaster B Mk. I, LM178. According to 300 Sqn. ORBs, Sam's crew flew this aircraft, BH-U "Uncle" exclusively until they were shot down.

Their first operation with 300 Sqn was flown on June 22/23 on the marshalling yards of Reims, France. Their next several missions were on more marshalling yards and V1 rocket sites in France. Their 10th and final mission was their first foray into Germany, Stuttgart, on the night of July 24/25.

Sam remembers preparing for this mission. He was seated in his turret, getting ready, when Joe Forman came around the wing with a strange young man following him. Their regular bomb aimer, Tom Gallagher was apparently too ill to fly that night. Joe said, "Sam, this is Jimmy Duguid, our bomb aimer for tonight." Sam reached between his four Browning .303s (he had removed the center perspex panel), shook his hand and said, "Pleased to meet you Jimmy." When Sam told me this story, he looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said, "That was the first and last time I ever saw the guy." It was Jimmy Duguid's second mission. He had been pilfered from another new RCAF crew for the night's mission. Such are the vagaries of war. Tom Gallagher went on to survive WWII and return to Canada. He passed away in Toronto in August 1997 at the age of 75.
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Good day to all who may still be following this thread, which I found while following up some research on my father's cousin Sgt Gerald Batten's time in 300 Squadron "B" Flight. Gerald (a Brit) was a Flight Engineer, and Jim Duguid was his (mainly Canadian) crew's original bomb aimer. As is rightly pointed out above, the crew had completed one mission (Courtrai on the night of 20/21 July 1944) when Jim was lent to P/O Robinson's crew on that fateful night.

Kai-Petri · Jul 13, 2021

So many lives lost in the fighting. Thank You and Bless Your!

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LANCASTER LM 178 of 300 Squadron

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