Recently two mind provoking questions were raised on the Lancaster-archive forum.
"How many Dambuster Lancaster's were actually made and what happened to the aircraft that survived the Dam's Raid?" and "I recollect reading somewhere that some were returned to standard configuration and again in another book that two (2) were used for disposing of surplus “Upkeep” mines post hostilities?"
On reflecting on the questions for a short time it became apparent that little has been written to record the histories and final fates of all of the actual AVRO Lancaster Mk.IIIs Type 464 (Provisioning) "Dambuster" Lancaster’s. This page is an attempt to provide a summary of each aircraft’s fate, and I would welcome anyone’s input to expand on these details or to be able to supply a photograph for each of the aircraft listed.
First we must establish the scope of the problem and this is relatively easily completed by a search of my database for all of the recorded serial numbers for this variant of the aircraft. From this search we establish that while eighteen (18) Lancaster’s took part in the actual attack, a total of twenty-two (22) aircraft were actually converted on the production line to suit the Type 464 (Provisioning) standard. All of these were either used for flight testing, “Upkeep” drop trails, the raid itself, or were reserve aircraft in the event of a mechanical failure on the flight line at the time of take-off.
Before we review the aircraft histories, consideration should also be taken to review some of the known facts, a few possibly unknown facts which I have discovered from speaking with actual Dam’s Raid aircrew and also a few “food for thought” concepts which I will throw into the mix.
Fact:
Eight (8) Lancaster failed to return from the Dam’s Raid, representing 36.3 percent of the production batch.
Fact:
After speaking with Dam’s Raid crew members I know that several of the aircraft were so badly damaged they were sent away to be repaired, and in the process of repair it appears that these aircraft were returned to some sort of more normal configuration.
Although were must take into serious consideration the comment from Mr. Harry Holmes “The aircraft in question, ED906, ED909 and Gibson's ED932 were returned to conventional bombing status after the actual attack although because of the extensive modifications it was impossible to re-fit the bomb doors. Type 464 Lancaster’s certainly did carry out operations in December 1943 and January 1944”
Fact:
The pilot, F/Sgt. K.W. Brown, RCAF, confirmed to me that his aircraft was heavily damaged during the Dam’s Raid and required significant repair. This appears to have been completed by an AVRO repair team at Scampton as the aircraft’s Form 78 movement lists the aircraft as being Category AC – Repairable on site. If we base our facts on the above comments from Mr. Homes then the aircraft was probably returned in a basic Lancaster Mk.III “standard” configuration, less the bomb doors.
Fact:
ED933 is also confirmed as being returned to Lancaster Mk.III “standard” configuration, again one must assume less the bomb doors.
Fact:
I know of no recorded offensive attacks where “Upkeep” was used or planned to be used other than on the Dam’s Raid. So it is safe to say that of the aircraft listed as retained by the Squadron these were also returned to normal to as close as possible Lancaster Mk.III “standard” configuration.
Fact:
With the exception of No. 61 Squadron, for Operational GUZZLE, which will be discussed later paragraphs, no other Bomber Command Squadron operated either true 464 (Provisioning) Lancaster’s or aircraft that had been returned to close as possible Lancaster Mk.III “standard” configuration
Fact:
With no bomb doors, the aircraft were likely set up and configured to drop 12,000 lbs HC “blockbuster” bombs. These consisted of three (3) 4,000 lbs HC “cookies” bolted together and dropped as a single bomb, 617 Squadron was to drop these later in 1943, and may explained where a few of the survivors ended up and confirmed Mr. Holmes early comments of 464 Lancaster’s operating in December of 1943.
Finally, I have never read of surplus mines being manufactured, but it is likely that one or two were loaded on spare aircraft just in case one of the allocated Lancaster’s was unable to take off due to a technical problem. This would allow for a crew to swap aircraft and then attempt to catch up with their attack wave. We must also consider that ED921, ED924 both aborted without attacking, and returned to base with their Upkeep’s intact. So there are at least two (2) Upkeep’s; and possibility as mainly as two (2) additional weapons from the spare aircraft that may have remained after the attack.
The /G Serial number confusion:
Where I have noted that the Actual Serial Number included /G, this was used to indicate that the aircraft carried a /G prefix after the serial number which was painted on the side of the fuselage. This denoted that the aircraft carried secret equipment and required a 24 hour guard when not in the air. The /G was supposedly painted out prior to the take-off of the actual attack and was never part of the actual “production serial number.” This system was used on many other aircraft to denote such requirements and was not unique to this variant of the Lancaster.
ED817:
Scrapped - 23 September 1946
Actual Serial Number ED817/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. second prototype airframe, 617 Sqn del'd 20-4-43 AJ-C, AJ-X for 'Upkeep' dropping trails at Reculver, retained by 617 Sqn used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored at 46 del'd 15-4-44.
The aircraft did not take part in Dam’s Raid.
ED825:
Shot Down – SOE Target 9/10 December 1943, Crashed France
Actual Serial Number ED825/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. third prototype airframe, 617 Sqn AJ-T, A&AEE Boscombe Down del'd 5-43, 617 Sqn del'd 5-43 AJ-E, sent for repair, 617 Sqn del'd 6-43 AJ-E.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED864:
Shot Down – Moehne Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Marbeck
Actual Serial Number ED864/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn AJ-B.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED865:
Shot Down – Moehne Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Gilze-Rijen Airfield, Holland
Actual Serial Number ED865/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 19-4-43 AJ-S.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED886:
Failed To Return – SOE Target 9/10 December 1943, Crashed Terramesnil
Actual Serial Number ED886/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 23-4-43 AJ-O, retained by 617 Sqn used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton),
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED887:
Shot Down – Moehne Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Castricum an Zee, Holland
Actual Serial Number ED887/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn del'd 17-4-43 AJ-A, retained by 617 Sqn used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton),
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED906:
Scrapped: 29 July 1947
Actual Serial Number ED906/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc, 617 Sqn AJ-J del'd 23-4-43, retained by 617 Sqn used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored at 46 MU del'd 15-4-44, 61 Sqn del'd 8-46 YF-A For ‘Operation Guzzle’ (disposal of remaining UPKEEP mines, but in fact flew with No.1 Group Major Servicing Unit using Scampton Station Flight ‘s ‘YF-‘ codes, and were flown by crews temporarily detached in from other Bomber Command squadrons.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED909:
Scrapped - 29 July 1947
Actual Serial Number ED909/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn AJ-P (Martin’s P-Popsie) del'd 30-4-43 used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored at 46 MU del'd 15-4-44, 61 Sqn del'd 8-46 YF-B. For ‘Operation Guzzle’ (disposal of remaining UPKEEP mines), but in fact flew with No.1 Group Major Servicing Unit using Scampton Station Flight ‘s ‘YF-‘ codes, and were flown by crews temporarily detached in from other Bomber Command squadrons.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED910:
Shot Down – Moehne Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed, Hamm, Germany
Actual Serial Number ED910/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 28-4-43 AJ-C.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED912:
Scrapped - 26 September 1946
Actual Serial Number ED912/G:, Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc, 617 Sqn del'd 3-5-43 AJ-N, AJ-S, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored 46 MU from 2-45.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED915:
Scrapped – 8 October 1946
Actual Serial Number ED915/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc, 617 Sqn del'd 3-5-43 AJ-Q, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored 46 MU from 2-45.
The aircraft did not take part in Dam’s Raid.
ED918:
Crashed – 20 January 1944 – Training Flight at Snettisham, Norfolk
Actual Serial Number ED918/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc, 617 Sqn del'd 30-4-43 AJ-F, Cat. AC – Repaired on site, retained by 617 Sqn AJ-F, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton),
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
The pilot, F/Sgt. K.W. Brown, RCAF, during a personal interview with myself in 1995, stated that the aircraft was not flying true after its return from repairs and that he had advised the squadron the aircraft should not been flown until fixed. However, while he was away on leave, the aircraft crashed during a training flight, and the “out of true flying characteristic” may have partly the cause of the aircraft’s loss. Sadly F/L T.V. O'Shaughnessy and F/O A.D. Holding were both killed; while F/O G.A. Kendrick and F/O A. Ward were both injured.
ED921:
Scrapped – 26 September 1946
Actual Serial Number ED921/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 30-4-43 AJ-W, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored 46 MU.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED924:
Scrapped – 23 September 1946
Actual Serial Number ED924/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 30-4-43 AJ-Y, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored 46 MU.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED925:
Shot Down – Moehne Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Ostoennen, Germany
Actual Serial Number ED925/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn AJ-M.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED927:
Shot Down – Sorpe Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Haldern
Actual Serial Number ED927/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc, 617 Sqn del'd 3-5-43 AJ-E.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED929:
Scrapped – 7 October 1946
Actual Serial Number ED929/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn del'd 30-4-43 AJ-L, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored 46 MU.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED932:
Scrapped – 29 July 1947
Actual Serial Number ED932/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn del'd 30-4-43, AG-G (Gibson’s aircraft), later AJ-V used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored 46 MU del'd 7-2-45, 61 Sqn del'd 8-46 YF-C For ‘Operation Guzzle’ (disposal of remaining UPKEEP mines), but in fact flew with No.1 Group Major Servicing Unit using Scampton Station Flight ‘s ‘YF-‘ codes, and were flown by crews temporarily detached in from other Bomber Command squadrons. Sustained Cat AC damage on take-off for an Operation Guzzle sortie on 8-11-46, was re-categorised to Cat E and scrapped at Scampton.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED933:
Scrapped – 7 October 1946
Actual Serial Number ED933/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn del'd 2-5-43 AJ-X, AJ-N-Bar, No. 54 Base, Coningsby, carrying out various trials including formation assembly with coloured smoke using crews from other squadrons.
The aircraft did not take part in the Dam’s Raid.
The aircraft was damaged by spray during practice drop of an inert “Upkeep” during training for Dam’s Raid. Damage was classed as Cat AC and the Lancaster was repaired on site, at which time it may have been partially returned to returned to Mk.III standard.
ED934:
Shot Down – Sorpe Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Waddenzee
Actual Serial Number ED934/G, Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 3-5-43 AJ-K.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED936:
Scrapped – 29 July 1947
Actual Serial Number ED936/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc. 617 Sqn del'd 12-5-43 AJ-H, sent for repair, 617 Sqn del'd 17-7-43, used occasionally for operations, trials and training duties by No. 54 Base at nearby Coningsby (No. 54 Base included Coningsby, Metheringham and Scampton), Stored at 46 MU.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
ED937:
Shot Down – Eder Dam 16/17- May 1943, Crashed Netterden, Germany
Actual Serial Number ED937/G: Type 464 (Provisioning) Lanc., 617 Sqn del'd 14-5-43 AJ-Z.
The aircraft took part in Dam’s Raid.
In summation:
ED817, ED912, ED915, ED921¸ ED924, ED929, ED933 all appear to have survived in storage in a Dam’s configuration or something close to it. All were scrapped at No. 46 Maintenance Unit (MU).
ED906, ED909, ED933 appear to have been reconfigured and used in some role after the Dam’s Raid. They were returned to Dam’s configuration after the war and used to dispose of the remaining “Upkeep’s”. After completing this task the aircraft were scrapped by what appears to have been a special AVRO contract team specifically tasked to do this.
ED918, was reconfigured back Mk.III Standard, apparently minus its bomb doors, and crashed in a training flight.
ED933 appears to have been reconfigured back Mk.III Standard, apparently minus its bomb doors, and by all accounts did not see further operational duties and served as a trials aircraft.
By the numbers:
|
Aircraft Lost On Dam’s Raid |
8 |
|
Aircraft Lost On Operations (post Dam’s Raid) |
2 |
|
Crashed on Training Flight |
1 |
|
Scrapped (post war) |
11 |
|
Total |
22 |
Operation “GUZZLE”
This operation is reported to have been carried out during August and September 1946 and was designed to dispose of the two (2) returned Upkeep mines, plus those that were loaded onto spare aircraft; as well as any other “left over’s” which may have existed.
The operation appears to be clearly supported by several factors. Firstly, a report which states that “three Dam's Raid survivors ED906, ED909 and ED932 were attached to No. 61 Squadron at Waddington during these months, and flew several trips to a drop zone centered on 56N 12W where the mines were released into the deep Atlantic from 10,000 feet.
Secondly, by the aircrafts’ Form 78 movement cards which record each aircraft as being allocated to No. 61 Squadron during this frame. Although, in actually fact it is more probable that they were operated by No. 1 Group Major Servicing Unit (1 GMSU) stationed at Scampton airfield; with aircrew being gathered from all over No.1 Group to make up scratch crews. Since 1 GMSU normally had no aircraft of its own and therefore would not have had a unit code allotment of its own use; it appears likely that the aircraft borrowed Scampton’s Station Flight unit code of “YZ“, and this supports the aircraft code letters of YZ-A. YZ-B and YZ-C.
