62 Base Major Servicing Section Monthly Reports March, April, May 1944

[jay hammond]

I am trying to find if the monthly reports for RCAF 62 Base Major Servicing Section for March, April and May 1944 exist and how I go about finding them. I have reviewed in detail the 62 Base ORB and they are not there. Perhaps someone familiar with Bomber Command records can point me in the right direction. There is one aircraft I am specifically interested in, namely Halifax MkIII LW682. Matters such as movements, modifications, accidents, transfers, would all be of interest to me. Thanks. Jay Hammond. Sooke, British Columbia, Canada

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Probably what you already know.

LW682, 432 squadron 28 February 1944 direct from English Electric, Aircraft card says Category AC battle damage 14 March, back to 432 squadron 30th March, lost 31st March.

Reel C-12307 pages 268 to 304 at https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_135766

Squadron record says code letter C, operations on 6th, 7th (early return, hydraulic problems), 18th (landed away from base, Newmarket), 25th, 26th, 30th (Failed to return)

C-12427 pages 369 to 410 for 62 base. Perhaps 9432 servicing echelon?

Since 432 squadron was being re-equipped with Halifax III in February/March 1944 it was sent direct from English Electric, LW582, LW584, LW592, LW593, LW594, LW595, LW596, LW597, LW598, LW614, LW615, LW616, LW617, LW643, LW682, LW686, LW687, plenty of misidentification chances. It also received LK754, LK761, LK764, LK765, LK766, LK779, LK811 from Fairey. There are possibly others.

 

[jay hammond]

Thank you very much much Geoffrey. I really appreciate your help. With regards to the 62 Base Major Servicing Section do yo you know a particular forum concentrating on Monthly Major Servicing Section reports. I have gone through the 62 Base ORB in detail but could not find any monthly 62 Base Major Servicing Section reports. Do you have any suggestions where I might look? Thanks again Geoffrey. Also with regards to Halifax LW682 C after its accident on March 13 it returned to ops on March 18/19 March. Something strange happened around here. It took on the code letter W. LW682 W did not go missing on the Nuremberg raid. It continued flying as W into April. Around the 10-18 April it was transferred to the 426 Squadron where on April 17 it was flying training flights with Bob Jarman, an experienced 426 Squadron pilot at the controls. One other point of interest is that probably in the period of 11-20 April a mid under gun was installed onto this plane at East Moor. 426 Ground crew distinctly remember Halifax LW682 as it was the first mid under gun they had ever seen. This is one of the reasons why I'm so keen to find the 62 Base Major Servicing Section monthly reports for March, April and May 1944. Cheers. Jay

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

You obviously have access to much more detailed information than I have. Whether the relevant records of the servicing people were preserved is the first hurdle. If the RCAF history unit still exists try contacting it, after that comes the Canadian Archives.

LW682 is C when reported lost on 30 March (with a hand written "or LW687" on what seems to be that aircraft's first sortie) LW682 is W on 9 and 10 April

426 has the first 3 Halifax arrive 11th April, 3 more on 13th from Tholthorpe and Eastmoor, noting they seem to be the aircraft other units wanted rid of, by the 27th had 20 on strength. On the 19th used LK796, LW382, LW590 in a sea search. Halifax operations from 7 May, including crew lists with a mid under gunner, LW682 reported lost 12/13 May carrying a mid under gunner, it also has a second entry reporting a successful mission that night.

The under gun position was something available to Lancasters with bulged bomb bay doors, often the mark II. And reported as an alternative to carrying a H2S set in Halifax at least.

 

[jay hammond]

Geoffrey, that's a good suggestion to see if servicing records are still in the records and if so London or Ottawa. It's too bad all the form 700s were regularly destroyed. I wonder if the National Archives in London has a phone number to take that sort of question. Once again Geoffrey thanks for all your help. Cheers, Jay