As a result of investigating the loss of PB759 on the 30Dec44 I have been collecting all the 61 Lancaster operations in a spreadsheet with a view of manipulating the information to obtain results. To this end I have recently been searching for missing aircraft codes from log books. Lancaster R5859 was originally coded as QR-G but when it reportedly crashed landed on the 6Dec42 at Bodney, Norfolk, W4269 had been allocated the QR-G code. I have just received information that the Log Book of Harley Glinz, one of the Air Gunners on this flight contains the serial number of ED359 QR-F. This fits as the ORB lists W4244 which was the previous QR-F lost on 10Nov42. Another error. The biggest issue is that the Form 78 lists R5859 as Cat E Flying Battle on the 7Dec42, and all the information on the internet refers to R5859. There is this information on RAF Commands back in 2007 relating to Watton: RE: RAF Watton Author: PC Time Stamp: 20:20:51 Thursday, October 18, 2007 Post: On my Uncle's 2nd op with 61 sqn (as A/B) he crashed in Lancaster R5859 'G' 2 mile NE of Bodney (Watton sattelite) after returning form ops to Mannheim 00:10 7th December 42. They crashed at Hopton Farm after hitting some trees on approach 030 deg, with the total write off of the a/c but no serious injuries. The rear gunner that night, Glinz RCAF was later KIA on Barlow's Lanc on the dams raid. My Uncle was KIA on the Plzen op 17th April 43. I have more info on this crash. But I would be interested to know the exact site of the crash. Peter RE: RAF Watton Author: stewartmcloughlin Time Stamp: 23:52:49 Thursday, October 18, 2007 Post: PC Check your inbox please. Private message re the Plzen raid. Stewart McLoughlin RE: RAF Watton Author: PC Time Stamp: 07:55:16 Friday, October 19, 2007 Post: Have done so Peter RE: RAF Watton Author: BC Time Stamp: 22:56:31 Friday, October 19, 2007 Post: Peter: Unfortunately, there are no detailed Police reports for such incidents in Norfolk, and the main source of info on wartime incidents in that county is the CD War Diaries. These are cryptic in nature, transcripts from telephone messages, and there are many crash incidents which are not mentioned, quite simply because the services of CD, ARP, NFS, etc., were not required. The CD records state that at 0030 hours on 8 Dec 1942, "two bombers crash-landed S.E. of Gt Cressingham" (G3119). This almost certainly relates to the R5859 incident. Gt Cressingham is approx 2 miles NORTH of the RAF Bodney site, and I note from my OS map that there is a "Hopton House" between the village of Lt Cressingham and Bodney ? I suspect only local enquiry will answer your query. Regards, BC I believe the Air Bomber in question was F/Sgt William Dawson 1123166 on his third trip. Can anyone help in resolving the mystery. Ken
