Lancaster Flight Over France 12 June 1945

[Isambard]

The flight log of my uncle, an Air Bomber in the RCAF, lists a cross country flight over France on 12 June 1945, in Lancaster Type III No. K, from No. 1668 C.U. Bottesford.

The Flying Officer in command, now 87, recalls that this flight was part of a massed air fleet exercise, with all available aircraft mustered.

What was the purpose of the exercise, since V-E Day was 8 May 1945?

[SueNSW]

Possibly just ongoing training - 1668 was a heavy conversion unit - where crews who had been flying medium bombers were able to train and qualify to fly the heavy 4 engined Lancaster

Information on the net suggests it operated at Bottesford until March 1946

Hope this helps a little

Cheers
Sue

[Isambard]

Possibly just ongoing training - 1668 was a heavy conversion unit - where crews who had been flying medium bombers were able to train and qualify to fly the heavy 4 engined Lancaster

Information on the net suggests it operated at Bottesford until March 1946

Hope this helps a little

Cheers
Sue

Thanks Sue,

My uncle's crew was at Bottesford for conversion from Halifaxes to Lancasters. Previously they had been at Kinloss, Scotland, training on twin-engine Wellingtons and then Marston Moor for conversion to four-engine Halifaxes. Their last flight at Bottesford was on 15 June 1945, after which they stood down from flying. They were offered the option of returning to Canada and discharge or of signing up for service in the war against Japan. Fortunately Japan surrendered on 15 August while those who signed on for additional service were en route to Canada and the far east.