Seen here is No.103 Sqns veteran Lancaster B.Mk.111 'Mike Squirrel' - then with 131 operational sorties to its credit - was 'awarded' a bar to its DFC. Pickwick the bulldog, seen looking on, was well-known at Elsham during the war years.
This is PM-M ND572(b). Airborne from Elsham Wolds 2130 24Mar44. The Main Force was badly scattered by unforecast winds. Group elected to ignore transmissions from aircraft which gave a wind force of 104 knots, advising the fleet to expect a maximum of 60 knots. ND572 made the target but was badly shot about by a night fighter whose opening burst killed the Rear Gunner, Sgt R.Thomas. Later, coned by searchlights and severely attacked by Flak, the W/Op F/Sgt J.Spark succesfully called off the Flak by firing off a red/white verey which he had observered a German night-fighter use. With no radio ND572 was unable to call for help but was eventually able to perform a forced landing at Dunsfold 0505 25Mar44. Having successfully made a fast landing, the port wheel collapsed due battle damage and the Lancaster skidded across the grass to collide with a USAAF B17G belongong to 452BG, Deopham Green, Norfolk. Fred Brownings, Norman Barker, Ronald Walker and Arthur Richardson were all awards the DFC. Sgt J.Spark was awarded the DFM and a commission. ND572 was repaired and reissued to No.57 Sqdn and on 2Mar45 was lost in a mid-air collision. See ND572. F/S F.Brownings F/S A.Richardson P/O R.Walker F/S J.Spark P/O N.Barker Sgt K.Smart Sgt R.Thomas KIA. Credit: LostBombers.com
