Is it possible to find out about an individual Lancaster's history at the RAF Museum? I'm interested in NG185 lost 22 Jan 1945 whilst serving with 153 Sqn - on an Op to Duisberg. Many thanks for any help you can give. David
NG 185 could have been a comparatively new Lancaster Mark 1 aircraft,one built by Armstrong Whitworth of Coventry in the fourth 400 production batch which were delivered from July 1944 with final delivery completed by February 1945. Initially,it was issued to No 166 Squadron who at the time were based at Kirmington and appears not to have been involved in operations until it was lost on the raid to Duisberg with No 153 Squadron as P4-A.No 166 Squadron aircraft would have been transferred with experienced aircrew to No 153 Squadron when the squadron was reformed as a bomber squadron and No 166 Squadron formed the nucleus for No 153 Squadron on 7 October 1944.By 15 October the aircraft, under new ownership had been flown down the A15 to Scampton. It might be that this aircraft was lost on its first operation over Germany on a night when the squadron lost two aircraft with the loss of all 14 aircrew. The NG 185 MU gunner was the youngest RCAF airmen at 18 years old to be lost on operations in 1945
David, One way to research an individual aircraft is to obtain its movement card and accident card. The Movement Record Card is Form 78. This is a log giving all owners (Sqd) and movements of an aircraft. The Accident Record Card is Form 1180. Gives details, if known, of the loss of an aircraft. These can be obtained on line at a small cost from the RAF Hendon Museum. Contact the Department of Research & Information Services Regards Peter.
David re: I'm interested in NG185 lost 22 Jan 1945 whilst serving with 153 Sqn - on an Op to Duisberg. I own a copy of "Avro Lancaster- The Definitive Record" by Harry Holmes which lists every Lancaster by number. Your aircraft is listed in various places but no fresh details. See if you can get your local library to order you a copy? Cheers Ron
The following info is taken from BCL Vol.6 W R. Chorley 22-23 January 1945 153 Squadron. Lancaster I NG185 P4-A Op. Duisburg. Crew. F/O. K W. Winder + Sgt. D B. George + Sgt. A J. Rabin + F/O. M A. Smith RCAF + Sgt. E. Evans + Sgt. G B. Hamilton RCAF + Sgt. T. O'Gorman + Took off 1640 hrs Scampton. Likely to have crashed in Germany, where the bodies of the crew were either discovered by an American graves inspection team or found almost immediately by US forces, as all were taken into Holland and interned at Margraten. Since then their remains have been transferred to Venrary War Cemetery. At 18, Sgt Hamilton RCAF was one of the youngest Canadians killed on bombing duties during 1945.
