57 Squadron (Corpus Non Animum Muto) RAF East Kirkby, Lancaster III aircraft ND 405 returned to England badly damaged after an aborted GARDENING sortie to Kiel Bay landing at RAF Station Oulton. Sgt R Odgers (RAFVR)(Can), severely wounded was taken from the aircraft to hospital, where he died from his wounds the next day, May 23

Minelaying on the night of 21/22 May 1944

Air War Over Denmark

Lanc. III 0f 57 Squadron East Kirby. 5 Group 21/22.5.44.

57/T.ND/405, having got slightly off course arrived over the Danish coast at Esbjerg 2-3 mins. Behind schedule at 14/15000 ft. They were coned by 6 searchlights for a few seconds: searchlights were evaded and fighter flares appeared ahead at the same height. Lanc. Was attacked by 2 fighters one of which was identified as a JU 88. Three attacks were made on our A/C, strikes being sustained on the tail and along the fuselage; the starboard trimming tabs were shot away , an explosive shell entered the astro hatch and seriously wounded W/Op A.G. Sgt Odgers (Who has since died), a cannon shell shattered the pilot`s cockpit hood and a splinter entered the pilot's head at the base of the skull. The pilot F/Sgt Lumsden blacked out temporarily and on landing was found to be suffering from concussion. The Navigator W/O Waters had splinters in the right arm and the GEE was u/s. The A/C could not be kept in level flight; the nose was repeatedly dropping and the pilot aided by the bomb aimer, who had tied a piece of rope to the stick, had to pull the nose up from time to time as best he could. In this way the English coast was reached in cloud at 4/5000 feet. They broke cloud and turned east to try to identify their position and they recrossed the coast flashing nav. Lights on and off and showing broad I.F.F. Searchlights gave the honing signal to Oulton and the A/C was landed on 3 engines and a flat tail wheel.

The mines were jettisoned in the sea, live, at 01:26 hrs at position within 15 miles radius of 5452N 0546E. While crossing the sea homeward the pilot found his boost gauge registering zero and as the F/E reported overheating on the port outer motor, he feathered.

The Pilot, W/Op and Navigator were admitted to S.S.Q. and the W/OP immediately transferred to the Norfolk and Norwich General Hospital.

From RAF Oulten. To HQ No 5 Group = 52 Base East Kirkby = 100 Group.

1. 5 Group 21/22 May 1944 Mines GEE MONICA H2S.
2. 57/T Oulton RE9 ND405 F/S Lumsden.
3. 1 aircraft coned by 6 S/L for half minute. Attacked by 3 E/A followed one identified as JU 88. A/C was badly shot up and crew sustained casualties. No detailed interrogation held as crew was sent to S.S.Q. as soon as possible, 9 (A) mines jettisoned live at 0126 within 15 miles radius of 545N 0546E.

Medical officers report:

1314770 Sgt Odgers. W/Op serious injuries. Perforating wound of cranium with cerebral compression. Transferred to Norfolk and Norwich General Hospital. Next of kin not informed but M.O. of unit has been instructed to place him on D.I. List.

1323093 F/S Lumsden, Pilot. Injuries not serious. Admitted to S.S.Q. RAF OULTON. Mild concussion and small superficial splinter wounds.

1180172 W/O Walters. Navigator. Superficial injuries. Not admitted to S.S.C.

Signed F.G.Sewell / BT 220615B.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Timmins, Ontario

Target
Gardening

Burial
Tywardreath Cemetery, UK

 Serial Groups  Specifications 

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

Lancaster Bomber

Wikipedia

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:

RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)

last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

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Lancaster Mk.III ND405

Delivered to No. 57 Sqn Jan 1944. Crashed on returning from Gardening sortie 22 May 1945. Later served with No. 550 and No. 166 Sqns before being SOC 30-Sep 1947.