Lancaster LM311 PO-L

Lancaster LM311 PO-L

The seven aircrew are standing at the nose of 'Liz Beth', their Lancaster. Each crew member is identified along with brief details of the crash at Normington, Lincolnshire on completion of an operation to Turin 12/13 July 1943.
The second part of the document is a crew list and details about the operation. They departed RAF Bottesford on 12 July, target Turin. Aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire and crashed 1/4 mile from touchdown. All crew died. Elizabeth was the fiancee of P/O Chapman and was waiting for his return.

Additional information about this item has been kindly provided by the donor.

One b/w photocopy

One typewritten sheet

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MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150410-01

[black and white photograph of LM311 PO-L and the crew]


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Lancaster MK.3 LM311 PO-L 'Liz'Beth'






Pilot

Fl/Engineer

Navigator

Bomb Aimer
Wireless Op.
Air Gunner

Air Gunner



Pilot Officer C.A. Chapman R.A.A.F.
Sergeant J. Greenwood R.A.F.V.R.
Sergeant AE. Michaels R.A.F.V.R.
Sergeant N.C. Smith R.A.F.V.R
Sergeant P Donlevy R.A.F.V.R.
Flight Sergeant W Bruce R.A.F.V.R.
Sergeant W.S. Buchanan R.A.F.V.R.



Operational Detail 12/13 July 1943.
Take-off Bottestford 12 July 1943 2248hrs. Target Turin. Successful
mission to target and returned towards home base.

On return Pilot informed control that he had sustained heavy Flak damage over target to the effect that he no Elevator control and that a large hole was in the tail section of fuselage. As an added extra he reported aircraft to be short on fuel and requested immediate let down.

Permission given to land and Pilot proceeded to make a very shallow approach to the field. I-le intended to lower undercarriage at the last moment to attempt to avoid the rear airframe from becoming to stressed.

Eyewitness on the ground reported as aircraft over flew him, he noticed that he could see daylight through the rear fuselage.

Pilot them lowered undercarriage and as the wheels locked down, the tail section separated from the main body and fluttered away. The forward section then reared up, stalled and came down into a Wheatfield approximately 1/4. mile from touch down. There were no survivors.

To the present day there is a patch on this field that will not grow any crop. Each time it is ploughed it generally gives up a little more of the debris.

Adjacent to this field there is a memorial plaque together with a tree in memory of those 7 aircrews.

Pilot Officer Chapman was engaged to member of the W.A.A.F, who was a member of the M.T. Section. She by name of Elizabeth was on duty that morning waiting with the crew Gharry awaiting the arrival of LM311.
Pilot Officer Chapman interred in the C.W.G.C at Botley Oxford. The rest of his crew were taken to their hometowns.

A report by C.Allen (within the folder) is disputed by the Brother of the Flight Engineer as well as the eyewitness on the ground as to the cause of the break-up of the aircraft.
From my own research I have not been able to locate any information as to a series of Lancaster's being checked for possible inferior rivets.